2&#39;-azido substituted nucleoside derivatives and methods of use thereof for the treatment of viral diseases

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives of Formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein B, X, R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are as defined herein. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative, and methods of using the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives, compositions comprising at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative, and methods of using the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major human pathogen. A substantial fraction of these HCV-infected individuals develop serious progressive liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, which are often fatal. HCV is a (+)-sense single-stranded enveloped RNA virus that has been implicated as the major causative agent in non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH), particularly in blood-associated NANBH (BB-NANBH) (see, International Publication No. WO 89/04669 and European Patent Publication No. EP 381 216). NANBH is to be distinguished from other types of viral-induced liver disease, such as hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), delta hepatitis virus (HDV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), as well as from other forms of liver disease such as alcoholism and primary biliar cirrhosis.

It is well-established that persistent infection of HCV is related to chronic hepatitis, and as such, inhibition of HCV replication is a viable strategy for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. Current therapies for HCV infection include α-interferon monotherapy and combination therapy comprising α-interferon and ribavirin. These therapies have been shown to be effective in some patients with chronic HCV infection, but suffer from poor efficacy and unfavorable side-effects and there are currently efforts directed to the discovery of HCV replication inhibitors that are useful for the treatment and prevention of HCV related disorders.

Current research efforts directed toward the treatment of HCV includes the use of antisense oligonucleotides, free bile acids (such as ursodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid) and conjugated bile acids (such as tauroursodeoxycholic acid). Phosphonoformic acid esters have also been proposed as potentially useful for the treatment of various viral infections, including HCV. Vaccine development, however, has been hampered by the high degree of viral strain heterogeneity and immune evasion and the lack of protection against reinfection, even with the same inoculum.

In light of these treatment hurdles, the development of small-molecule inhibitors directed against specific viral targets has become a major focus of anti-HCV research. The determination of crystal structures for NS3 protease, NS3 RNA helicase, NS5A, and NS5B polymerase, with and without bound ligands, has provided important structural insights useful for the rational design of specific inhibitors. Accordingly, different approaches to HCV therapy have been taken, which include the inhibition of viral serine proteinase (NS3 protease), helicase, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B), and the development of a vaccine.

The HCV virion is an enveloped positive-strand RNA virus with a single oligoribonucleotide genomic sequence of about 9600 bases which encodes a polyprotein of about 3,010 amino acids. The protein products of the HCV gene consist of the structural proteins C, E1, and E2, and the non-structural proteins NS2, NS3, NS4A and NS4B, and NS5A and NS5B. The nonstructural (NS) proteins are believed to provide the catalytic machinery for viral replication. The NS3 protease releases NS5B, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from the polyprotein chain. HCV NS5B polymerase is required for the synthesis of a double-stranded RNA from a single-stranded viral RNA that serves as a template in the replication cycle of HCV. NS5B polymerase is therefore considered to be an essential component in the HCV replication complex [see K. Ishi, et al., “Expression of Hepatitis C Virus NS5B Protein: Characterization of Its RNA Polymerase Activity and RNA Binding,” Hepatology, 29:1227-1235 (1999) and V. Lohmann, et al., “Biochemical and Kinetic Analyses of NS5B RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase of the Hepatitis C Virus,” Virology, 249:108-118 (1998)]. Inhibition of HCV NS5B polymerase prevents formation of the double-stranded HCV RNA and therefore constitutes an attractive approach to the development of HCV-specific antiviral therapies.

The development of inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase with potential for the treatment of HCV infection has been reviewed in M. P. Walker et al., “Promising candidates for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C,” Expert Opin. Invest. Drugs, 12:1269-1280 (2003) and in P. Hoffmann et al., “Recent patents on experimental therapy for hepatitis C virus infection (1999-2002),” Expert Opin. Ther. Patents,” 13:1707-1723 (2003). The activity of purine ribonucleosides against HCV polymerase was reported by A. E. Eldrup et al., “Structure-Activity Relationship of Purine Ribonucleosides for Inhibition of HCV RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase,” J. Med. Chem., 47:2283-2295 (2004).

There is a continuing need for structurally diverse nucleoside derivatives as inhibitors of HCV polymerase as therapeutic approaches for HCV therapy. This invention responds to that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides Compounds of Formula (I):

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein:

X is O, S or CH₂;

B is a natural or non-natural purine or pyrimidine base, or B is selected from one of the following groups:

Y is N or —C(R¹⁹)—;

Z is N or CH;

R¹ is H,

R² is H or:

or R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

R³ is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl;

R⁴, R⁵, R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰ or —N(R²⁰)₂;

R⁶, R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, —S(O)R²⁰, —S(O)₂R²⁰, —S(O)₂N(R²⁰)₂, —NHC(O)OR²⁰, —NHC(O)N(R²⁰)₂, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —NH(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl), —NH(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-(9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl), —C(O)R²⁰, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰, wherein said C₂-C₆ alkenyl group and said C₂-C₆ alkynyl group can be optionally substituted a halo group;

-   -   each occurrence of R¹² is independently selected from H, —(C₁-C₆         alkylene)-T-R²¹, —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁ aryl), —(C₁-C₆         alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₆         alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered

heterocycloalkenyl), —CH(C₆-C₁₀ aryl)-C(O)OR²⁰ and:

wherein said C₆-C₁₀ aryl moiety of said —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl) group, said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl moiety of said —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl) group and said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkenyl moiety of said —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkenyl) group can be optionally substituted with up to three groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰;

R¹³ is H, —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-T-R²¹ or —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), or R¹² and R¹³ can join to form a C₂-C₄ alkylene group between the oxygen atoms that R¹² and R¹³ are attached to, wherein said C₂-C₄ alkylene group is substituted with at least one C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, wherein said C₆-C₁₀ aryl moiety of said —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl) group can be optionally substituted with up to three groups, each independently selected from group can be optionally substituted with up to three groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰;

R¹⁴ is H, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl or 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, wherein said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group and said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with R²²;

R¹⁵ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, wherein said C₁-C₆ alkyl can be optionally substituted with a group selected from halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, guanidino, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂, —NHC(O)R²⁰, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl and 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, and wherein said phenyl group and said benzyl group can be optionally substituted with up to 2 groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo and —OR²⁰;

R¹⁶ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, wherein said C₁-C₆ alkyl can be optionally substituted with a group selected from halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, guanidino, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂, —NHC(O)R²⁰, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl and 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, and wherein said phenyl group and said benzyl group can be optionally substituted with up to 2 groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo and —OR²⁰;

R¹⁷ is H, C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, C₂-C₂₀ alkenyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-C₆-C₁₀ aryl or adamantyl, wherein said C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, said C₂-C₂₀ alkenyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group and said adamantyl group can be optionally substituted with up to three groups, each independently selected from halo, —OR²⁰, —C(O)OR²⁰, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂—SR²⁰, —S(O)R²⁰, —S(O)₂R²⁰, —S(O)₂N(R²⁰)₂, —NHC(O)R²⁰, —NHC(O)OR²⁰ and —NHC(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and;

R¹⁸ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-C₆-C₁₀ aryl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)-C(O)OR²⁰, -5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl or:

wherein said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group and said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with up to five groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰;

R¹⁹ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, N(R²⁰)₂, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl or 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl;

each occurrence of R²⁰ is independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl) or —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl), wherein said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl group, said -(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group or said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with R²⁶;

each occurrence of R²¹ is independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkenyl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, —OR²⁰, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl) or —N(R²⁰)₂, wherein said C₂-C₆ alkenyl group, said C₂-C₆ alkynyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkenyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group and said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with up to five groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)R²⁰, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰;

R²² represents from one to five substituent groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰, or any two R²² groups on adjacent ring carbon atoms can combine to form —O—R²³—O—;

R²³ is —[C(R²⁴)₂]_(n)—;

each occurrence of R²⁴ is independently H or C₁-C₆ alkyl;

each occurrence of R²⁵ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-C(O)—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-C(O)O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl and 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, wherein said C₁-C₆ alkyl group, said C₂-C₆ alkenyl group, said C₂-C₆ alkynyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl group, said -(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group or said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with R²⁶; or two R²⁵ groups, together with the common nitrogen atom to which they are attached, join to form a 4- to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl group;

R²⁶ represents from one to five substituent groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, halo, —OR²⁷, —SR²⁷, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁷)₂, —C(O)OR²⁷, —C(O)N(R²⁷)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁷;

each occurrence of R²⁷ is independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl) or —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl);

R²⁸ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkenyl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, —OR²⁰, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl) or —N(R²⁰)₂, wherein said C₂-C₆ alkenyl group, said C₂-C₆ alkynyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkenyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group and said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with up to five groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)R²⁰, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰; each occurrence of R²⁹ is independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl) or —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl), wherein said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl group, said -(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group or said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with R²⁶;

each occurrence of T is independently —S—, —O—, —SC(O)—, —SC(S)—, —OC(O)— and —OC(S)—;

each occurrence of m is independently 0 or 1; and

each occurrence of n is independently 1 or 2.

The Compounds of Formula (I) (also referred to herein as the “2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives”) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof can be useful, for example, for inhibiting HCV viral replication or replicon activity, and for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient. Without being bound by any specific theory, it is believed that the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives inhibit HCV viral replication by inhibiting HCV NS5B.

Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative.

The details of the invention are set forth in the accompanying detailed description below.

Although any methods and materials similar to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, illustrative methods and materials are now described. Other embodiments, aspects and features of the present invention are either further described in or will be apparent from the ensuing description, examples and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives, compositions comprising at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative, and methods of using the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient.

Definitions and Abbreviations

The terms used herein have their ordinary meaning and the meaning of such terms is independent at each occurrence thereof. That notwithstanding and except where stated otherwise, the following definitions apply throughout the specification and claims. Chemical names, common names, and chemical structures may be used interchangeably to describe the same structure. If a chemical compound is referred to using both a chemical structure and a chemical name and an ambiguity exists between the structure and the name, the structure predominates. These definitions apply regardless of whether a term is used by itself or in combination with other terms, unless otherwise indicated. Hence, the definition of “alkyl” applies to “alkyl” as well as the “alkyl” portions of “hydroxyalkyl,” “haloalkyl,” “—O-alkyl,” etc. . . . .

As used herein, and throughout this disclosure, the following terms, unless otherwise indicated, shall be understood to have the following meanings:

A “patient” is a human or non-human mammal. In one embodiment, a patient is a human. In another embodiment, a patient is a chimpanzee.

The term “effective amount” as used herein, refers to an amount of 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative and/or an additional therapeutic agent, or a composition thereof that is effective in producing the desired therapeutic, ameliorative, inhibitory or preventative effect when administered to a patient suffering from a viral infection or virus-related disorder. In the combination therapies of the present invention, an effective amount can refer to each individual agent or to the combination as a whole, wherein the amounts of all agents administered are together effective, but wherein the component agent of the combination may not be present individually in an effective amount.

The term “preventing,” as used herein with respect to an HCV viral infection or HCV-virus related disorder, refers to reducing the likelihood or severity of HCV infection.

The term “alkyl,” as used herein, refers to an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having one of its hydrogen atoms replaced with a bond. An alkyl group may be straight or branched and contain from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, an alkyl group contains from about 1 to about 12 carbon atoms. In different embodiments, an alkyl group contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms (C₁-C₆ alkyl) or from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms (C₁-C₄ alkyl). Non-limiting examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, neopentyl, isopentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl and neohexyl. An alkyl group may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents which may be the same or different, each substituent being independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, cyano, hydroxy, —O-alkyl, —O-aryl, -alkylene-O-alkyl, alkylthio, —NH₂, —NH(alkyl), —N(alkyl)₂, —NH(cycloalkyl), —O—C(O)-alkyl, —O—C(O)-aryl, —O—C(O)-cycloalkyl, —C(O)OH and —C(O)O-alkyl. In one embodiment, an alkyl group is linear. In another embodiment, an alkyl group is branched. Unless otherwise indicated, an alkyl group is unsubstituted.

The term “alkenyl,” as used herein, refers to an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond and having one of its hydrogen atoms replaced with a bond. An alkenyl group may be straight or branched and contain from about 2 to about 15 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, an alkenyl group contains from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, an alkenyl group contains from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms. Non-limiting examples of alkenyl groups include ethenyl, propenyl, n-butenyl, 3-methylbut-2-enyl, n-pentenyl, octenyl and decenyl. An alkenyl group may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents which may be the same or different, each substituent being independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, cyano, hydroxy, —O-alkyl, —O-aryl, -alkylene-O-alkyl, alkylthio, —NH₂, —NH(alkyl), —N(alkyl)₂, —NH(cycloalkyl), —O—C(O)-alkyl, —O—C(O)-aryl, —O—C(O)-cycloalkyl, —C(O)OH and —C(O)O-alkyl. The term “C₂-C₆ alkenyl” refers to an alkenyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. Unless otherwise indicated, an alkenyl group is unsubstituted.

The term “alkynyl,” as used herein, refers to an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing at least one carbon-carbon triple bond and having one of its hydrogen atoms replaced with a bond. An alkynyl group may be straight or branched and contain from about 2 to about 15 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, an alkynyl group contains from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, an alkynyl group contains from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms. Non-limiting examples of alkynyl groups include ethynyl, propynyl, 2-butynyl and 3-methylbutynyl. An alkynyl group may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents which may be the same or different, each substituent being independently selected from the group consisting of halo, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, cyano, hydroxy, —O-alkyl, —O-aryl, -alkylene-O-alkyl, alkylthio, —NH₂, —NH(alkyl), —N(alkyl)₂, —NH(cycloalkyl), —O—C(O)-alkyl, —O—C(O)-aryl, —O—C(O)-cycloalkyl, —C(O)OH and —C(O)O-alkyl. The term “C₂-C₆ alkynyl” refers to an alkynyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. Unless otherwise indicated, an alkynyl group is unsubstituted.

The term “alkylene,” as used herein, refers to an alkyl group, as defined above, wherein one of the alkyl group's hydrogen atoms has been replaced with a bond. Non-limiting examples of alkylene groups include —CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂—, —CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₂—, —CH(CH₃)— and —CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂—. In one embodiment, an alkylene group has from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, an alkylene group is branched. In another embodiment, an alkylene group is linear. In one embodiment, an alkylene group is —CH₂—. The term “C₁-C₆ alkylene” refers to an alkylene group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The term “aryl,” as used herein, refers to an aromatic monocyclic or multicyclic ring system comprising from about 6 to about 14 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, an aryl group contains from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms. An aryl group can be optionally substituted with one or more “ring system substituents” which may be the same or different, and are as defined herein below. In one embodiment, an aryl group can be optionally fused to a cycloalkyl or cycloalkanoyl group. Non-limiting examples of aryl groups include phenyl and naphthyl. In one embodiment, an aryl group is phenyl. Unless otherwise indicated, an aryl group is unsubstituted.

The term “arylene,” as used herein, refers to a bivalent group derived from an aryl group, as defined above, by removal of a hydrogen atom from a ring carbon of an aryl group. An arylene group can be derived from a monocyclic or multicyclic ring system comprising from about 6 to about 14 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, an arylene group contains from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, an arylene group is a naphthylene group. In another embodiment, an arylene group is a phenylene group. An arylene group can be optionally substituted with one or more “ring system substituents” which may be the same or different, and are as defined herein below. An arylene group is divalent and either available bond on an arylene group can connect to either group flanking the arylene group. For example, the group “A-arylene-B,” wherein the arylene group is:

is understood to represent both:

In one embodiment, an arylene group can be optionally fused to a cycloalkyl or cycloalkanoyl group. Non-limiting examples of arylene groups include phenylene and naphthalene. In one embodiment, an arylene group is unsubstituted. In another embodiment, an arylene group is:

Unless otherwise indicated, an arylene group is unsubstituted.

The term “cycloalkyl,” as used herein, refers to a non-aromatic mono- or multicyclic ring system comprising from 3 to about 10 ring carbon atoms. In one embodiment, a cycloalkyl contains from about 5 to about 10 ring carbon atoms. In another embodiment, a cycloalkyl contains from 3 to about 7 ring atoms. In another embodiment, a cycloalkyl contains from about 5 to about 6 ring atoms. The term “cycloalkyl” also encompasses a cycloalkyl group, as defined above, which is fused to an aryl (e.g., benzene) or heteroaryl ring. Non-limiting examples of monocyclic cycloalkyls include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl. Non-limiting examples of multicyclic cycloalkyls include 1-decalinyl, norbornyl and adamantyl. A cycloalkyl group can be optionally substituted with one or more “ring system substituents” which may be the same or different, and are as defined herein below. In one embodiment, a cycloalkyl group is unsubstituted. The term “3 to 6-membered cycloalkyl” refers to a cycloalkyl group having from 3 to 6 ring carbon atoms. Unless otherwise indicated, a cycloalkyl group is unsubstituted. A ring carbon atom of a cycloalkyl group may be functionalized as a carbonyl group. An illustrative example of such a cycloalkyl group (also referred to herein as a “cycloalkanoyl” group) includes, but is not limited to, cyclobutanoyl:

The term “halo,” as used herein, means —F, —Cl, —Br or —I.

The term “haloalkyl,” as used herein, refers to an alkyl group as defined above, wherein one or more of the alkyl group's hydrogen atoms has been replaced with a halogen. In one embodiment, a haloalkyl group has from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, a haloalkyl group is substituted with from 1 to 3 F atoms. Non-limiting examples of haloalkyl groups include —CH₂F, —CHF₂, —CF₃, —CH₂Cl and —CCl₃. The term “C₁-C₆ haloalkyl” refers to a haloalkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The term “hydroxyalkyl,” as used herein, refers to an alkyl group as defined above, wherein one or more of the alkyl group's hydrogen atoms have been replaced with an —OH group. In one embodiment, a hydroxyalkyl group has from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Non-limiting examples of hydroxyalkyl groups include —CH₂OH, —CH₂CH₂OH, —CH₂CH₂CH₂OH and —CH₂CH(OH)CH₃. The term “C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl” refers to a hydroxyalkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The term “heteroaryl,” as used herein, refers to an aromatic monocyclic or multicyclic ring system comprising about 5 to about 14 ring atoms, wherein from 1 to 4 of the ring atoms is independently O, N or S and the remaining ring atoms are carbon atoms. In one embodiment, a heteroaryl group has 5 to 10 ring atoms. In another embodiment, a heteroaryl group is monocyclic and has 5 or 6 ring atoms. In another embodiment, a heteroaryl group is bicyclic. A heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted by one or more “ring system substituents” which may be the same or different, and are as defined herein below. A heteroaryl group is joined via a ring carbon atom, and any nitrogen atom of a heteroaryl can be optionally oxidized to the corresponding N-oxide. The term “heteroaryl” also encompasses a heteroaryl group, as defined above, which is fused to a benzene ring. Non-limiting examples of heteroaryls include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridone (including N-substituted pyridones), isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, furazanyl, pyrrolyl, triazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, quinoxalinyl, phthalazinyl, oxindolyl, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazolyl, benzofurazanyl, indolyl, azaindolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothienyl, quinolinyl, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, thienopyridyl, quinazolinyl, thienopyrimidyl, pyrrolopyridyl, imidazopyridyl, isoquinolinyl, benzoazaindolyl, 1,2,4-triazinyl, benzothiazolyl and the like, and all isomeric forms thereof. The term “heteroaryl” also refers to partially saturated heteroaryl moieties such as, for example, tetrahydroisoquinolyl, tetrahydroquinolyl and the like. In one embodiment, a heteroaryl group is a 5-membered heteroaryl. In another embodiment, a heteroaryl group is a 6-membered heteroaryl. In another embodiment, a heteroaryl group comprises a 5- to 6-membered heteroaryl group fused to a benzene ring. Unless otherwise indicated, a heteroaryl group is unsubstituted.

The term “heterocycloalkyl,” as used herein, refers to a non-aromatic saturated monocyclic or multicyclic ring system comprising 3 to about 11 ring atoms, wherein from 1 to 4 of the ring atoms are independently O, S, N or Si, and the remainder of the ring atoms are carbon atoms. A heterocycloalkyl group can be joined via a ring carbon, ring silicon atom or ring nitrogen atom. In one embodiment, a heterocycloalkyl group is monocyclic and has from 3 to about 7 ring atoms. In another embodiment, a heterocycloalkyl group is monocyclic has from about 4 to about 7 ring atoms. In another embodiment, a heterocycloalkyl group is bicyclic and has from about 7 to about 11 ring atoms. In still another embodiment, a heterocycloalkyl group is monocyclic and has 5 or 6 ring atoms. In one embodiment, a heterocycloalkyl group is monocyclic. In another embodiment, a heterocycloalkyl group is bicyclic. There are no adjacent oxygen and/or sulfur atoms present in the ring system. Any —NH group in a heterocycloalkyl ring may exist protected such as, for example, as an —N(BOC), —N(Cbz), —N(Tos) group and the like; such protected heterocycloalkyl groups are considered part of this invention. The term “heterocycloalkyl” also encompasses a heterocycloalkyl group, as defined above, which is fused to an aryl (e.g., benzene) or heteroaryl ring. A heterocycloalkyl group can be optionally substituted by one or more “ring system substituents” which may be the same or different, and are as defined herein below. The nitrogen or sulfur atom of the heterocycloalkyl can be optionally oxidized to the corresponding N-oxide, S-oxide or S,S-dioxide. Non-limiting examples of monocyclic heterocycloalkyl rings include oxetanyl, piperidyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, 1,4-dioxanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, delta-lactam, delta-lactone, silacyclopentane, silapyrrolidine and the like, and all isomers thereof. Non-limiting illustrative examples of a silyl-containing heterocycloalkyl group include:

A ring carbon atom of a heterocycloalkyl group may be functionalized as a carbonyl group. An illustrative example of such a heterocycloalkyl group is:

In one embodiment, a heterocycloalkyl group is a 5-membered monocyclic heterocycloalkyl. In another embodiment, a heterocycloalkyl group is a 6-membered monocyclic heterocycloalkyl. The term “3 to 6-membered monocyclic cycloalkyl” refers to a monocyclic heterocycloalkyl group having from 3 to 6 ring atoms. The term “4 to 6-membered monocyclic cycloalkyl” refers to a monocyclic heterocycloalkyl group having from 4 to 6 ring atoms. The term “7 to 11-membered bicyclic heterocycloalkyl” refers to a bicyclic heterocycloalkyl group having from 7 to 11 ring atoms. Unless otherwise indicated, an heterocycloalkyl group is unsubstituted.

The term “natural or non-natural purine or pyrimidine base” includes, but is not limited to, adenine, N^(6-alkylpurines), N^(6-acylpurines) (wherein acyl is C(O)(alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, or arylalkyl), N^(6-benzylpurine), N^(6-halopurine), N^(6-vinylpurine), N^(6-acetylenic) purine, N^(6-acyl) purine, N^(6-hydroxyalkyl) purine, N^(6-thioalkyl) purine, N^(2-alkylpurines), N^(2-alkyl-6-thiopurines), thymine, cytosine, 5-fluorocytosine, 5-methylcytosine, 6-azapyrimidine, including 6-azacytosine, 2- and/or 4-mercaptopyrmidine, uracil, 5-halouracil, including 5-fluorouracil, C^(5-alkylpyrimidines), C^(5-benzylpyrimidines), C^(5-halopyrimidines), C^(5-vinylpyrimidine), C^(5-acetylenic) pyrimidine, C^(5-acyl) pyrimidine, C^(5-hydroxyalkyl) purine, C^(5-amidopyrimidine), C^(5-cyanopyrimidine), C^(5-nitropyrimidine), C^(5-aminopyrimidine), N^(2-alkylpurines), N^(2-alkyl-6-thiopurines), 5-azacytidinyl, 5-azauracilyl, triazolopyridinyl, imidazolopyridinyl, pyrrolopyrimidinyl, and pyrazolopyrimidinyl. Purine bases include, but are not limited to, guanine, adenine, hypoxanthine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and 6-chloropurine. Functional oxygen and nitrogen groups on the base can be protected as necessary or desired. Suitable protecting groups are well known to those skilled in the art, and include trimethylsilyl, dimethylhexylsilyl, t-butyldimethylsilyl, and t-butyldiphenylsilyl, trityl, alkyl groups, acyl groups such as acetyl and propionyl, methanesulfonyl, and p-toluenesulfonyl.

The term “ring system substituent,” as used herein, refers to a substituent group attached to an aromatic or non-aromatic ring system which, for example, replaces an available hydrogen on the ring system. Ring system substituents may be the same or different, each being independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, -alkylene-aryl, -arylene-alkyl, -alkylene-heteroaryl, -alkenylene-heteroaryl, -alkynylene-heteroaryl, —OH, hydroxyalkyl, haloalkyl, —O-alkyl, —O-haloalkyl, -alkylene-O-alkyl, —O-aryl, —O-alkylene-aryl, acyl, —C(O)-aryl, halo, —NO₂, —CN, —SF₅, —C(O)OH, —C(O)O-alkyl, —C(O)O-aryl, —C(O)O-alkylene-aryl, —S(O)-alkyl, —S(O)₂-alkyl, —S(O)-aryl, —S(O)₂-aryl, —S(O)-heteroaryl, —S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —S-alkyl, —S-aryl, —S-heteroaryl, —S-alkylene-aryl, —S-alkylene-heteroaryl, —S(O)₂-alkylene-aryl, —S(O)₂-alkylene-heteroaryl, —Si(alkyl)₂, —Si(aryl)₂, —Si(heteroaryl)₂, —Si(alkyl)(aryl), —Si(alkyl)(cycloalkyl), —Si(alkyl)(heteroaryl), cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, —O—C(O)-alkyl, —O—C(O)-aryl, —O—C(O)-cycloalkyl, —C(═N—CN)—NH₂, —C(═NH)—NH₂, —C(═NH)—NH(alkyl), —N(Y₁)(Y₂), -alkylene-N(Y₁)(Y₂), —C(O)N(Y₁)(Y₂) and —S(O)₂N(Y₁)(Y₂), wherein Y₁ and Y₂ can be the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, and -alkylene-aryl. “Ring system substituent” may also mean a single moiety which simultaneously replaces two available hydrogens on two adjacent carbon atoms (one H on each carbon) on a ring system. Examples of such moiety are methylenedioxy, ethylenedioxy, —C(CH₃)₂— and the like which form moieties such as, for example:

The term “substituted” means that one or more hydrogens on the designated atom is replaced with a selection from the indicated group, provided that the designated atom's normal valency under the existing circumstances is not exceeded, and that the substitution results in a stable compound. Combinations of substituents and/or variables are permissible only if such combinations result in stable compounds. By “stable compound” or “stable structure” is meant a compound that is sufficiently robust to survive isolation to a useful degree of purity from a reaction mixture, and formulation into an efficacious therapeutic agent.

The term “in substantially purified form,” as used herein, refers to the physical state of a compound after the compound is isolated from a synthetic process (e.g., from a reaction mixture), a natural source, or a combination thereof. The term “in substantially purified form,” also refers to the physical state of a compound after the compound is obtained from a purification process or processes described herein or well-known to the skilled artisan (e.g., chromatography, recrystallization and the like), in sufficient purity to be characterizable by standard analytical techniques described herein or well-known to the skilled artisan.

It should also be noted that any carbon as well as heteroatom with unsatisfied valences in the text, schemes, examples and tables herein is assumed to have the sufficient number of hydrogen atom(s) to satisfy the valences.

When a functional group in a compound is termed “protected”, this means that the group is in modified form to preclude undesired side reactions at the protected site when the compound is subjected to a reaction. Suitable protecting groups will be recognized by those with ordinary skill in the art as well as by reference to standard textbooks such as, for example, T. W. Greene et al, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis (1991), Wiley, New York.

When any substituent or variable (e.g., alkyl, R⁶, R^(a), etc.) occurs more than one time in any constituent or in Formula (I), its definition on each occurrence is independent of its definition at every other occurrence, unless otherwise indicated.

As used herein, the term “composition” is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specified amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts.

Prodrugs and solvates of the compounds of the invention are also contemplated herein. A discussion of prodrugs is provided in T. Higuchi and V. Stella, Pro-drugs as Novel Delivery Systems (1987) 14 of the A.C.S. Symposium Series, and in Bioreversible Carriers in Drug Design, (1987) Edward B. Roche, ed., American Pharmaceutical Association and Pergamon Press. The term “prodrug” means a compound (e.g., a drug precursor) that is transformed in vivo to provide a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound. The transformation may occur by various mechanisms (e.g., by metabolic or chemical processes), such as, for example, through hydrolysis in blood.

For example, if a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or solvate of the compound contains a carboxylic acid functional group, a prodrug can comprise an ester formed by the replacement of the hydrogen atom of the acid group with a group such as, for example, (C₁-C₈)alkyl, (C₂-C₁₂)alkanoyloxymethyl, 1-(alkanoyloxy)ethyl having from 4 to 9 carbon atoms, 1-methyl-1-(alkanoyloxy)-ethyl having from 5 to 10 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyloxymethyl having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, 1-(alkoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms, 1-methyl-1-(alkoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, N-(alkoxycarbonyl)aminomethyl having from 3 to 9 carbon atoms, 1-(N-(alkoxycarbonyl)amino)ethyl having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, 3-phthalidyl, 4-crotonolactonyl, gamma-butyrolacton-4-yl, di-N,N—(C₁-C₂)alkylamino(C₂-C₃)alkyl (such as β-dimethylaminoethyl), carbamoyl-(C₁-C₂)alkyl, N,N-di(C₁-C₂)alkylcarbamoyl-(C₁-C₂)alkyl and piperidino-, pyrrolidino- or morpholino(C₂-C₃)alkyl, and the like.

Similarly, if a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative contains an alcohol functional group, a prodrug can be formed by the replacement of one or more of the hydrogen atoms of the alcohol groups with a group such as, for example, (C₁-C₆)alkanoyloxymethyl, 1-((C₁-C₆)alkanoyloxy)ethyl, 1-methyl-1-((C₁-C₆)alkanoyloxy)ethyl, (C₁-C₆)alkoxycarbonyloxymethyl, N—(C₁-C₆)alkoxycarbonylaminomethyl, succinoyl, (C₁-C₆)alkanoyl, α-amino(C₁-C₄)alkyl, α-amino(C₁-C₄)alkylene-aryl, arylacyl and α-aminoacyl, or α-aminoacyl-α-aminoacyl, where each α-aminoacyl group is independently selected from the naturally occurring L-amino acids, or glycosyl (the radical resulting from the removal of a hydroxyl group of the hemiacetal form of a carbohydrate). Other non-limiting example of alcohol-derived prodrugs include —P(O)(OH)₂; —P(O)(—O—C₁-C₆alkyl)₂; —P(O)(—NH-(α-aminoacyl group))(—O-aryl); —P(O)(—O—(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-S-acyl)(—NH-arylalkyl); any cyclic phosphate ester that forms a bridge between two ribose hydroxyl groups, such as:

wherein the cyclic phosphate ester forms a bridge between the 3′-OH group and 5′-OH groups; and those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,879,815; International Publication Nos. WO2005/003047, WO2008/082602, WO2010/0081628, WO2010/075517 and WO2010/075549; Mehellou, Chem. Med. Chem., 5:1841-1842 (2005); Bobeck et al., Antiviral Therapy 15:935-950 (2010); Furman et al., Future Medicinal Chemistry, 1:1429-1452 (2009); and Erion, Microsomes and Drug Oxidations, Proceedings of the International Symposium, 17th, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., United States, Jul. 6-10, 2008, 7-12 (2008).

If a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative incorporates an amine functional group, a prodrug can be formed by the replacement of a hydrogen atom in the amine group with a group such as, for example, R-carbonyl-, RO-carbonyl-, NRR′-carbonyl- wherein R and R′ are each independently (C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, (C₃-C₇) cycloalkyl, benzyl, a natural α-aminoacyl, —C(OH)C(O)OY¹ wherein Y¹ is H, (C₁-C₆)alkyl or benzyl, —C(OY²)Y³ wherein Y² is (C₁-C₄)alkyl and Y³ is (C₁-C₆)alkyl; carboxy (C₁-C₆)alkyl; amino(C₁-C₄)alkyl or mono-N- or di-N,N—(C₁-C₆)alkylaminoalkyl; —C(Y⁴)Y⁵ wherein Y⁴ is H or methyl and Y⁵ is mono-N— or di-N,N—(C₁-C₆)alkylamino morpholino; piperidin-1-yl or pyrrolidin-1-yl, and the like.

Pharmaceutically acceptable esters of the present compounds include the following groups: (1) carboxylic acid esters obtained by esterification of the hydroxy group of a hydroxyl compound, in which the non-carbonyl moiety of the carboxylic acid portion of the ester grouping is selected from straight or branched chain alkyl (e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, t-butyl, sec-butyl or n-butyl), alkoxyalkyl (e.g., methoxymethyl), aralkyl (e.g., benzyl), aryloxyalkyl (for example, phenoxymethyl), aryl (e.g., phenyl optionally substituted with, for example, halogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₄alkyl) or amino); (2) sulfonate esters, such as alkyl- or aralkylsulfonyl (for example, methanesulfonyl); (3) amino acid esters (e.g., L-valyl or L-isoleucyl); (4) phosphonate esters and (5) mono-, di- or triphosphate esters. The phosphate esters may be further esterified by, for example, a C₁₋₂₀ alcohol or reactive derivative thereof, or by a 2,3-di(C₆₋₂₄)acyl glycerol.

One or more compounds of the invention may exist in unsolvated as well as solvated forms with pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water, ethanol, and the like, and it is intended that the invention embrace both solvated and unsolvated forms. “Solvate” means a physical association of a compound of this invention with one or more solvent molecules. This physical association involves varying degrees of ionic and covalent bonding, including hydrogen bonding. In certain instances the solvate will be capable of isolation, for example when one or more solvent molecules are incorporated in the crystal lattice of the crystalline solid. “Solvate” encompasses both solution-phase and isolatable solvates. Non-limiting examples of solvates include ethanolates, methanolates, and the like. A “hydrate” is a solvate wherein the solvent molecule is water.

One or more compounds of the invention may optionally be converted to a solvate. Preparation of solvates is generally known. Thus, for example, M. Caira et al, J. Pharmaceutical Sci., 93 (3), 601-611 (2004) describe the preparation of the solvates of the antifungal fluconazole in ethyl acetate as well as from water. Similar preparations of solvates, hemisolvate, hydrates and the like are described by E. C. van Tonder et al, AAPS PharmSciTechours., 5 (1), article 12 (2004); and A. L. Bingham et al, Chem. Commun., 603-604 (2001). A typical, non-limiting, process involves dissolving the inventive compound in desired amounts of the desired solvent (organic or water or mixtures thereof) at a higher than room temperature, and cooling the solution at a rate sufficient to form crystals which are then isolated by standard methods. Analytical techniques such as, for example IR spectroscopy, show the presence of the solvent (or water) in the crystals as a solvate (or hydrate).

The 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives can form salts which are also within the scope of this invention. Reference to a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative herein is understood to include reference to salts thereof, unless otherwise indicated. The term “salt(s)”, as employed herein, denotes acidic salts formed with inorganic and/or organic acids, as well as basic salts formed with inorganic and/or organic bases. In addition, when a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative contains both a basic moiety, such as, but not limited to a pyridine or imidazole, and an acidic moiety, such as, but not limited to a carboxylic acid, zwitterions (“inner salts”) may be formed and are included within the term “salt(s)” as used herein. In one embodiment, the salt is a pharmaceutically acceptable (i.e., non-toxic, physiologically acceptable) salt. In another embodiment, the salt is other than a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Salts of the Compounds of Formula (I) may be formed, for example, by reacting a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative with an amount of acid or base, such as an equivalent amount, in a medium such as one in which the salt precipitates or in an aqueous medium followed by lyophilization.

Exemplary acid addition salts include acetates, ascorbates, benzoates, benzenesulfonates, bisulfates, borates, butyrates, citrates, camphorates, camphorsulfonates, fumarates, hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, hydroiodides, lactates, maleates, methanesulfonates, naphthalenesulfonates, nitrates, oxalates, phosphates, propionates, salicylates, succinates, sulfates, tartarates, thiocyanates, toluenesulfonates (also known as tosylates) and the like. Additionally, acids which are generally considered suitable for the formation of pharmaceutically useful salts from basic pharmaceutical compounds are discussed, for example, by P. Stahl et al, Camille G. (eds.) Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts. Properties, Selection and Use. (2002) Zurich: Wiley-VCH; S. Berge et al, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (1977) 66 (1) 1-19; P. Gould, International J. of Pharmaceutics (1986) 33 201-217; Anderson et al, The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry (1996), Academic Press, New York; and in The Orange Book (Food & Drug Administration, Washington, D.C. on their website). These disclosures are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Exemplary basic salts include ammonium salts, alkali metal salts such as sodium, lithium, and potassium salts, alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium and magnesium salts, salts with organic bases (for example, organic amines) such as dicyclohexylamine, t-butyl amine, choline, and salts with amino acids such as arginine, lysine and the like. Basic nitrogen-containing groups may be quarternized with agents such as lower alkyl halides (e.g., methyl, ethyl, and butyl chlorides, bromides and iodides), dialkyl sulfates (e.g., dimethyl, diethyl, and dibutyl sulfates), long chain halides (e.g., decyl, lauryl, and stearyl chlorides, bromides and iodides), aralkyl halides (e.g., benzyl and phenethyl bromides), and others.

All such acid salts and base salts are intended to be pharmaceutically acceptable salts within the scope of the invention and all acid and base salts are considered equivalent to the free forms of the corresponding compounds for purposes of the invention.

Diastereomeric mixtures can be separated into their individual diastereomers on the basis of their physical chemical differences by methods well-known to those skilled in the art, such as, for example, by chromatography and/or fractional crystallization. Enantiomers can be separated by converting the enantiomeric mixture into a diastereomeric mixture by reaction with an appropriate optically active compound (e.g., chiral auxiliary such as a chiral alcohol or Mosher's acid chloride), separating the diastereomers and converting (e.g., hydrolyzing) the individual diastereomers to the corresponding pure enantiomers. Sterochemically pure compounds may also be prepared by using chiral starting materials or by employing salt resolution techniques. Also, some of the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives may be atropisomers (e.g., substituted biaryls) and are considered as part of this invention. Enantiomers can also be directly separated using chiral chromatographic techniques.

It is also possible that the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives may exist in different tautomeric forms, and all such forms are embraced within the scope of the invention. For example, all keto-enol and imine-enamine forms of the compounds are included in the invention.

All stereoisomers (for example, geometric isomers, optical isomers and the like) of the present compounds (including those of the salts, solvates, hydrates, esters and prodrugs of the compounds as well as the salts, solvates and esters of the prodrugs), such as those which may exist due to asymmetric carbons on various substituents, including enantiomeric forms (which may exist even in the absence of asymmetric carbons), rotameric forms, atropisomers, and diastereomeric forms, are contemplated within the scope of this invention. If a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative incorporates a double bond or a fused ring, both the cis- and trans-forms, as well as mixtures, are embraced within the scope of the invention.

Individual stereoisomers of the compounds of the invention may, for example, be substantially free of other isomers, or may be admixed, for example, as racemates or with all other, or other selected, stereoisomers. The chiral centers of the present invention can have the S or R configuration as defined by the IUPAC 1974 Recommendations. The use of the terms “salt”, “solvate”, “ester”, “prodrug” and the like, is intended to apply equally to the salt, solvate, ester and prodrug of enantiomers, stereoisomers, rotamers, tautomers, positional isomers, racemates or prodrugs of the inventive compounds.

In the Compounds of Formula (I), the atoms may exhibit their natural isotopic abundances, or one or more of the atoms may be artificially enriched in a particular isotope having the same atomic number, but an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number predominantly found in nature. The present invention is meant to include all suitable isotopic variations of the compounds of generic Formula I. For example, different isotopic forms of hydrogen (H) include protium (¹H) and deuterium (²H). Protium is the predominant hydrogen isotope found in nature. Enriching for deuterium may afford certain therapeutic advantages, such as increasing in vivo half-life or reducing dosage requirements, or may provide a compound useful as a standard for characterization of biological samples. Isotopically-enriched Compounds of Formula (I) can be prepared without undue experimentation by conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art or by processes analogous to those described in the Schemes and Examples herein using appropriate isotopically-enriched reagents and/or intermediates. In one embodiment, a Compound of Formula (I) has one or more of its hydrogen atoms replaced with deuterium.

Polymorphic forms of the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives, and of the salts, solvates, hydrates, esters and prodrugs of the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives, are intended to be included in the present invention.

In some instances, the compounds of the present invention are designated as “isomer 1” and “isomer 2.” This designation refers to stereoisomers at the chiral phosphorus atom of the 5′-prodrug moiety as illustrated below for cyclic and non-cyclic prodrugs, wherein the structure:

is understood to represent the following two phosphorus stereoisomers:

and the structure:

is understood to represent the following two phosphorus stereoisomers:

The terms “isomer 1” and “isomer 2” can be assigned to isomers of known absolute configuration or can be used to describe stereoisomers of unknown absolute configuration. Thus, the use of the terms “isomer 1” and “isomer 2” is not to be interpreted as indicating that the absolute configuration of both isomers is known.

The following abbreviations are used below and have the following meanings: Ac is acetyl or —C(O)CH₃, Ac₂O is acetic anhydride; t-BuMgCl is tert-butyl magnesium chloride; DCM is dichloromethane; Dess-Martin Periodinane is 1,1,1-triacetoxy-1,1-dihydro-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one; DIBAL-His diisobutylaluminum hydride; DMAP is N,N-dimethylamino pyridine; EtOAc is ethyl acetate; EtOH is ethanol; HPLC is high performance liquid chromatography; KHMDS is potassium hexamethyldisilazide; KOBut is potassium tert-butoxide; LCMS is liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry; MeOH is methanol; NMI is N-methylimidazole; Pd(OH)₂ is palladium hydroxide; TBAF is tetra n-butylammonium fluoride; TEMPO is (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidin-1-yl)oxyl; THF is tetrahydrofuran; TIPDSiCl₂ is 1,3-dichloro-1,1,3,3-tetraisopropyldisiloxane; and TLC is thin-layer chromatography.

The Compounds of Formula (I)

The present invention provides 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives of Formula (I):

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein B, X, R¹, R² and R³ are defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

In one embodiment, X is O.

In another embodiment, X is S.

In another embodiment, X is CH₂.

In one embodiment, Z is N.

In another embodiment, Z is CH.

In one embodiment, R³ is C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In another embodiment, R³ is methyl.

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is H or

or R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

wherein R¹⁴ is C₆-C₁₀ aryl, which can be optionally substituted; R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or —C₁-C₃ alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl); and R²⁹ is as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

In one embodiment, the compounds of formula (I) have the formula (Ia):

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein:

B is:

R¹ is H,

R² is H, or R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

R⁶ and R¹⁰ are each independently —N(R²⁰)₂;

R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl);

R¹⁴ is C₆-C₁₀ aryl, which can be optionally substituted with R²²;

R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl;

R¹ is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or C₆-C₁₀ aryl; each occurrence of R²⁰ is independently H or —C(O)—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), and

R²² represents one or two substituent groups, each independently selected from halo, or two R²² groups on adjacent ring carbon atoms combine to form —O—CH₂—O—.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), B is:

R⁶, R¹⁰ and R¹¹ are each —N(R²⁰)₂; and R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl).

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), B is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), B is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), B is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), B is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), B is:

In still another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), B is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), B is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), B is:

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is H.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is H or

or R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

wherein R¹⁴ is C₆-C₁₀ aryl, which can be optionally substituted; R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or —C₁-C₃ alkylene-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl); and R¹⁸ is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or C₆-C₁₀ aryl.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is:

In still another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is:

and R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In yet another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is:

wherein R¹⁴ is C₆-C₁₀ aryl, which can be optionally substituted as set forth in claim 1; one of R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ is H and the other is C₁-C₆ alkyl; and R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is:

wherein R¹⁴ is C₆-C₁₀ aryl, which can be optionally substituted as set forth in claim 1; and R⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In a further embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is:

R¹⁴, R¹⁴ is naphthyl or phenyl, wherein said phenyl group can be optionally substituted with up to 2 groups, each independently selected from Cl and F, or two groups on adjacent ring carbon atoms of said phenyl group can be joined by a group having the formula —O—CH₂—O—; and R¹⁷ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, neopentyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl or benzyl.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ is:

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R² is H.

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), each of R¹ and R² is H.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

wherein R is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or C₆-C₁₀ aryl.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

wherein R¹⁸ is methyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or phenyl.

In still another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

In still another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia), R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia),

R² is H;

B is:

and

R¹ is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia),

R² is H;

B is:

and

R¹ is:

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia),

B is:

and

R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

wherein R¹⁸ is methyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or phenyl.

In still another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia),

R¹ and R² are each H; and

B is:

In one embodiment, the Compounds of Formula (I) have the formula (Ib):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

B is:

R¹ is:

R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl);

R¹⁴ is phenyl, which can be optionally substituted with up to 2 halo groups, which can be the same or different; and

R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), R¹⁴ is unsubstituted phenyl.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), R¹⁷ is ethyl or isopropyl.

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), R¹⁴ is unsubstituted phenyl and R¹⁷ is ethyl or isopropyl.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), R¹⁴ is unsubstituted phenyl and R¹⁷ is ethyl.

In still another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), R¹⁴ is unsubstituted phenyl and R¹⁷ is isopropyl.

In one embodiment, the Compounds of Formula (I) have the formula (Ic):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

B is:

R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl); and

R¹⁸ is aryl or C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ic), R¹⁸ is C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ic), R¹⁸ is isopropyl.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ic), R¹⁸ is methyl.

In one embodiment, the Compounds of Formula (I) have the formula (Id):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

B is:

R¹ is:

and

R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl).

In one embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), (Ic) or (Id), B is

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), (Ic) or (Id), B is

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), (Ic) or (Id), B is

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), (Ic) or (Id), B is

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (Ib), (Ic) or (Id), B is

In one embodiment, variables B, X, R¹, R² and R³ for the Compounds of Formula (I) are selected independently of each other.

In another embodiment, for the Compounds of Formula (I) are in substantially purified form.

Other embodiments of the present invention include the following:

(a) A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a Compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

(b) The pharmaceutical composition of (a), further comprising a second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of HCV antiviral agents, immunomodulators, and anti-infective agents.

(c) The pharmaceutical composition of (b), wherein the HCV antiviral agent is an antiviral selected from the group consisting of HCV protease inhibitors, HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors and HCV NS5A inhibitors.

(d) A pharmaceutical combination that is (i) a Compound of Formula (I) and (ii) a second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of HCV antiviral agents, immunomodulators, and anti-infective agents; wherein the Compound of Formula (I) and the second therapeutic agent are each employed in an amount that renders the combination effective for inhibiting HCV replication, or for treating HCV infection and/or reducing the likelihood or severity of symptoms of HCV infection.

(e) The combination of (d), wherein the HCV antiviral agent is an antiviral selected from the group consisting of HCV protease inhibitors, HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors and HCV NS5A inhibitors.

(f) A method of inhibiting HCV replication in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a Compound of Formula (I).

(g) A method of treating HCV infection and/or reducing the likelihood or severity of symptoms of HCV infection in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a Compound of Formula (I).

(h) The method of (g), wherein the Compound of Formula (I) is administered in combination with an effective amount of at least one second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of HCV antiviral agents, immunomodulators, and anti-infective agents.

(i) The method of (h), wherein the HCV antiviral agent is an antiviral selected from the group consisting of HCV protease inhibitors, HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors and HCV NS5A inhibitors.

(j) A method of inhibiting HCV replication in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to the subject the pharmaceutical composition of (a), (b) or (c) or the combination of (d) or (e).

(k) A method of treating HCV infection and/or reducing the likelihood or severity of symptoms of HCV infection in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to the subject the pharmaceutical composition of (a), (b) or (c) or the combination of (d) or (e).

The present invention also includes a compound of the present invention for use (i) in, (ii) as a medicament for, or (iii) in the preparation of a medicament for: (a) medicine, (b) inhibiting HCV replication or (c) treating HCV infection and/or reducing the likelihood or severity of symptoms of HCV infection. In these uses, the compounds of the present invention can optionally be employed in combination with one or more second therapeutic agents selected from HCV antiviral agents, anti-infective agents, and immunomodulators.

Additional embodiments of the invention include the pharmaceutical compositions, combinations and methods set forth in (a)-(k) above and the uses set forth in the preceding paragraph, wherein the compound of the present invention employed therein is a compound of one of the embodiments, aspects, classes, sub-classes, or features of the compounds described above. In all of these embodiments, the compound may optionally be used in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate as appropriate. It is understood that references to compounds would include the compound in its present form as well as in different forms, such as polymorphs, solvates and hydrates, as applicable.

In one embodiment, the present invention includes the use of a compound of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting HCV NS5A activity or for preventing and/or treating infection by HCV in a patient in need thereof.

It is further to be understood that the embodiments of compositions and methods provided as (a) through (k) above are understood to include all embodiments of the compounds, including such embodiments as result from combinations of embodiments.

The Compounds of Formula (I) may be referred to herein by chemical structure and/or by chemical name. In the instance that both the structure and the name of a Compound of Formula (I) are provided and a discrepancy is found to exist between the chemical structure and the corresponding chemical name, it is understood that the chemical structure will predominate.

Non-limiting examples of the Compounds of Formula (I) include compounds 1-780 as set forth in the Examples below, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Methods for Making the Compounds of Formula (I)

The Compounds of Formula (I) may be prepared from known or readily prepared starting materials, following methods known to one skilled in the art of organic synthesis. Methods useful for making the Compounds of Formula (I) are set forth in the Examples below and generalized in Schemes A-P below. Alternative synthetic pathways and analogous structures will be apparent to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis.

Scheme A shows a method useful for making nucleoside compounds of formula A6, which correspond to the Compounds of Formula (I), wherein X is O; R¹ and R² are each H; R³ is methyl and B is:

Wherein PG is a protecting group and R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Nucleoside compounds of formula A1 can be bis-protected at the ribose 3′ and 5′ positions using the tetraisopropyldisiloxanyl group to provide compounds of formula A2. Compounds of formula A2 are then oxidized, using for example, the Dess-Martin Periodinane, to provide the 2′-ketone of formula A3. Wittig olefination with methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide/potassium hexamethyldisilazide provides compounds of formula A4. The olefin moiety of the compounds of formula A4 can be treated with the appropriate cobalt catalyst in the presence of tosyl azide and phenylsilane to provide the 2′-azido compounds of formula A5. The silyl protecting group is then removed using tetrabutylammonium fluoride and the cytidine protecting group is then removed with methanolic ammonia to provide the compounds of formula A6.

Scheme B shows a method useful for making nucleoside compounds of formula B6, which correspond to the Compounds of Formula (I), wherein X is O; R¹ and R² are each H; R³ is methyl and B is:

Wherein R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Compounds of formula B1 were protected at the ribose 3′ and 5′ positions using the tetraisopropyldisiloxanyl group to provide compounds of formula B2. Compounds of formula B2 were treated with Dess-Martin Periodinane to provide the desired 2′-ketone of formula B3. Wittig olefination with methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide/potassium hexamethyldisilazide provided compounds of formula B4. The olefin in compounds of formula B4 was treated with the appropriate cobalt catalyst in the presence of tosyl azide and phenyl silane to provide the 2′-azido compounds of formula B5. The silyl protecting group was removed using tetrabutylammonium fluoride to produce compounds of formula B6.

Scheme C shows a method useful for making nucleoside compounds of formula C9, which correspond to the Compounds of Formula (I), wherein X is O; R¹ and R² are each H; R³ is methyl and B is:

Wherein PG is a protecting group and R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

A compound of formula C1 can have all of its hydroxyl groups protected using well known methods to provide the compounds of formula C2. A compound of formula C2 can then be subjected to Mitsunobu conditions to provide purine ethers of formula C3. The hydroxyl groups of C3 are then deprotecting to provide the compounds of formula C4, which can subsequently have their 3′-OH and 5′-OH protected using the tetraisopropyldisiloxanyl group to provide the compounds of formula C5. Compounds of formula C5 are then oxidized, using for example, the Dess-Martin Periodinane, to provide the 2′-ketone compounds of formula C6. Wittig olefination with methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide/potassium hexamethyldisilazide provides the compounds of formula C7. The olefin in compounds of formula C7 was treated with the appropriate cobalt catalyst in the presence of tosyl azide and phenyl silane to provide the 2′-azido compounds of formula C8. The silyl protecting group is then removed using tetrabutylammonium fluoride followed by deprotection of the protected aryl amine group to provide the compounds of formula C9.

Scheme D shows a method useful for making nucleoside compounds of formula D3, which correspond to the Compounds of Formula (I), wherein X is O; R² is H; R³ is methyl; B is as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I); and R¹ is:

Wherein B, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

A compound of formula D1 can be coupled with a compound of formula D2 (compounds of formula D2 can be synthesized using methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,879,815) in the presence of either t-butylmagnesium bromide or N-methylimidazole to provide the compounds of formula D3.

Wherein B and R¹⁸ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

A compound of formula D1 can be reacted with a phosphoramidate compound of formula E1 followed by oxidation with, for example, m-chloroperbenzoic acid to provide a cyclic phosphate ester of formula E2.

Compounds of formula A6, B6, C9, D3 and E2 may be further elaborated using methods that would be well-known to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis or, for example, the methods described in the Examples below, to make the full scope of the Compounds of Formula (I).

Wherein and R²⁰ is as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

A compound F1 can be preferentially protected to provide compound F2 which can then be reacted with a variety of amines to give access to compounds of type F3. Oxidation of the 2′-OH using a reagent such as Dess Martin Periodinane provides F4. Wittig olefination followed by a stereoselective hydroazidation reaction gives access to F6. Global deprotection provides the target compound F7.

Wherein B, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R¹⁶ and R¹⁷ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

A compound G1 can be reacted with pentafluoro phenol to produce two isomers G2 and G3. These isomers can be individually reacted with G4 to produce compounds of structure G5.

Wherein B, R²⁰ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Compounds of type H1 can be reacted with amines to provide compounds of type H2. These compounds can be reacted with H3 to provide regioisomers H4 and H5.

Wherein B, R¹⁷, R²⁰ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Compounds of type I1 can be reacted with I2 to provide compounds of type I3. These compounds can be reacted with I4 to provide I5 which can then be treated with amines to provide I6.

Wherein B, R²⁰ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Compounds of type J1 can be reacted with J2 to provide a mixture of compounds of type J3 and J4.

Wherein B, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, R¹⁶, R¹⁷, and R²⁰ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Compounds of type D3 can be reacted with a variety of acetylating reagents to provide compounds of type K1.

Wherein B, R¹⁴, and R²⁰ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Compounds of type L1 can be treated with a variety of substituted alcohols to provide compounds of type L2. These compounds can be reacted with L3 to provide structures of type L4.

Wherein R²⁰ is as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Compound M1 can be reacted with M2 to provide M3. This compound can be dihydroxylated with appropriate reagents to provide compound M4. Sulfonylation of the alcohols using sulfuryl chloride provides compound M5. The cyclic sulfate can be opened using azide sources to provide M6. Treatment of compound M6 with acidic conditions provides compound M7. The diol of M7 can be protected with a variety of protecting groups to access M8. Treatment of M9 with n-BuLi followed by the addition of M8 gives access to M10. The 1′-hydroxy group can be removed to provide M11 which can then be globally deprotected to provide nucleoside M12.

Wherein R²⁰ is as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Lactone M8 can be reduced to the corresponding lactol N1 using a reagent such as lithium aluminum t-butoxy hydride. This lactol can react with N2 under Mitsunobu conditions to provide N3 which can be subject to ammonia to provide the nucleoside analog N4.

Wherein B, R¹⁵, R¹⁶, R¹⁷ and R²⁰ are as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Compounds of type O1 can react with compounds of type O2 to provide compounds of type O3.

Wherein B is as defined above for the Compounds of Formula (I).

Nucleosides such as P1 (synthesis described in example G) can be converted to the triphosphate P2 by treatment with phosphorus oxychloride followed by pyrophosphate.

Compounds of formula A6, B6, C9, D3, E2, F7, G5, H5, I6, J4, K1, L4, M12, N4, O3 and P2 may be further elaborated using methods that would be well-known to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis or, for example, the methods described in the Examples below, to make the full scope of the Compounds of Formula (I).

One skilled in the art of organic synthesis will recognize that the synthesis of compounds with multiple reactive functional groups, such as —OH and NH₂, may require protection of certain functional groups (i.e., derivatization for the purpose of chemical compatibility with a particular reaction condition). Suitable protecting groups for the various functional groups of these compounds and methods for their installation and removal are well known in the art of organic chemistry. A summary of many of these methods can be found in Greene

One skilled in the art of organic synthesis will also recognize that one route for the synthesis of the Compounds of Formula (I) may be more desirable depending on the choice of appendage substituents. Additionally, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that in some cases the order of reactions may differ from that presented herein to avoid functional group incompatibilities and thus adjust the synthetic route accordingly.

The starting materials used and the intermediates prepared using the methods set forth in Schemes A-P may be isolated and purified if desired using conventional techniques, including but not limited to filtration, distillation, crystallization, chromatography and alike. Such materials can be characterized using conventional means, including physical constants and spectral data.

EXAMPLES General Methods

Solvents, reagents, and intermediates that are commercially available were used as received. Reagents and intermediates that are not commercially available were prepared in the manner as described below. ¹H NMR spectra were obtained on a Varian VNMR System 400 (400 MHz) and are reported as ppm downfield from Me₄Si with number of protons, multiplicities, and coupling constants in Hertz indicated parenthetically. Where LC/MS data are presented, analyses was performed using an Agilent 6110A MSD or an Applied Biosystems API-100 mass spectrometer and Shimadzu SCL-10A LC column: Altech platinum C18, 3 micron, 33 mm×7 mm ID; gradient flow: 0 minutes—10% CH₃CN, 5 minutes—95% CH₃CN, 5-7 minutes—95% CH₃CN, 7 minutes—stop. The parent ion is given. Flash chromatography on silica gel was performed using pre-packed normal phase silica from Isco, Biotage, Inc. or bulk silica from Fisher Scientific. Unless otherwise indicated, flash chromatography on silica gel was performed using a gradient elution of hexanes/ethyl acetate, from 100% hexanes to 100% ethyl acetate.

Example 1 Preparation of Intermediate Compound Int-1c

Compound Int-1a (733 mg, 1.33 mmol) was taken up in ethanol (10 mL) and the resulting suspension was heated to 80° C. and allowed to stir at this temperature for 5 minutes. Compound Int-1b (236 mg, 1.33 mmol) was then added and the resulting reaction was allowed to stir at 80° C. for an additional 2 hours. The reaction was then cooled to room temperature using in an ice bath and the reaction mixture was filtered. The collected red solid was dried under vacuum to provide compound Int-1c (579 mg, 72%).

Example 2 Preparation of Intermediate Compound Int-2b

p-Toluenesulfonyl chloride (Int-2a, 46 g, 241 mmol) was suspended in acetone (350 mL) and water (350 mL) and cooled in an ice bath to 0° C. Sodium azide (47.1 g, 724 mmol) was added in portions over 15 minutes and the resulting reaction was allowed to stir for about 15 hours at room temperature. The reaction was diluted with water and ethyl acetate and the collected organic phase was washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide compound Int-2b (47%), which was used without further purification.

Example 3 Preparation of Intermediate Compound Int-3e

Step A—Synthesis of Compound Int-3b

Cytidine (Int-3a, 8.0 g, 32.89 mmol) was azeotroped with pyridine (2×15 mL) and then suspended in pyridine (25 mL). Tetraisopropyldisiloxanedichloride (12.0 mL, 35.4 mmol) was added dropwise over fifteen minutes and the reaction was allowed to stir for about 15 hours at room temperature. The reaction was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was triturated with heptane to provide 13.5 g of compound Int-3b as a white solid [M+H]=486.5.

Step B—Synthesis of Compound Int-3c

Compound Int-3b (13.5 mmol, 27.8 mmol) was dissolved in ethanol (200 mL) and to the resulting solution was added acetic anhydride (10 mL). The resulting reaction was heated to 65° C. and allowed to stir at this temperature for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the resulting residue was cooled in an ice bath and treated with saturated sodium bicarbonate. The resulting solution was extracted with ethyl acetate and the organic extract was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide compound Int-3c, which was used without purification. [M+H]=528.6

Step C—Synthesis of Compound Int-3d

Compound Int-3c (8.0 g, 15.15 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (120 mL) and the resulting solution was cooled in an ice bath and the Dess Martin Periodinane (15 g, 34.3 mmol) was added. The reaction was allowed to stir for about 15 hours and then was diluted with diethyl ether (400 mL) and washed with a mixture of saturated sodium bicarbonate and 10% sodium thiosulfate (1:1). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide 7.8 g of Int-3d, which was used without purification. [M+H]=526.2 (hydrate was also seen)

Step D—Synthesis of Compound Int-3e

Methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (2.72 g, 7.6 mmol) was suspended in tetrahydrofuran (25 mL) and to the resulting solution was added treated with KHMDS (0.5 mL in tetrahydrofuran, 14.5 mL, 7.22 mmol). The resulting reaction was allowed to stir for 20 minutes, then the reaction was cooled in an ice bath and a solution of compound Int-3d (1.0 g, 1.9 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (5 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature and was stirred at this temperature for 4 hours, then was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (2:1 hexanes/ethyl acetate) to provide 750 mg of compound Int-3e. [M+H]=524.5

Example 4 Preparation of Intermediate Compound Int-4-d

Step A—Synthesis of Compound Int-4-b

Uridine (Int-4-a, 5.0 g, 18.0 mmol) was azeotroped with pyridine (2×15 mL) and then suspended in pyridine (25 mL). Tetraisopropyldisiloxanedichloride (6.06 mL, 18.95 mmol) was added dropwise over fifteen minutes and the reaction was allowed to stir for about 15 hours at room temperature. The reaction was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was azeotroped with toluene (2×50 mL) to provide 7.8 g of compound Int-4-b as a white solid that was used without purification [M+H]=487.42.

Step B—Synthesis of Compound Int-4-c

Compound Int-4-b (4.0 g, 8.2 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (100 mL), cooled in an ice bath and then treated with Dess Martin Periodinane (7 g, 16.46 mmol). The reaction was allowed to stir for about 15 hours and then filtered through a pad of silica and sodium sulfate. The solution was diluted with diethyl ether (400 mL) and washed with a mixture of saturated sodium bicarbonate and 10% sodium thiosulfate (1:1). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide 3.8 g of compound Int-4-c that was used without purification. [M+H]=485.2 (hydrate was also seen)

Step C—Synthesis of Compound Int-4-d

Methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (5.4 g, 15.2 mmol) was suspended in tetrahydrofuran (50 mL) and treated with 0.5 M KHMDS (29 mL, 14.4 mmol). After the mixture stirred at room temperature for 20 minutes, the reaction was cooled in an ice bath and compound Int-4-c (2.0 g, 4.13 mmol) was added dropwise in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL). The reaction was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 4 hours. Upon completion of the reaction by TLC and LCMS, the reaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (2:1 hexanes/ethyl acetate) to provide 750 mg of compound Int-4-d. [M+H]=505.2

Example 5 Preparation of Intermediate Compound Int-5f

Step A—Synthesis of Compound Int-5b

Guanosine hydrate (Int-5a, 15 g, 53 mmol) was taken up in pyridine (120 mL) and acetic anhydride (60 mL). To the resulting solution was added dimethylamino pyridine (6.46 g, 53 mmol) and the reaction was heated to 70° C. and allowed to stir at this temperature for 3 hours. The reaction was then cooled in an ice bath and treated dropwise with methanol (60 mL). Half of the reaction volume was then removed in vacuo and then the reaction was diluted with dichloromethane and washed with 0.2 M potassium dihydrogensulfate, water, and sodium bicarbonate. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained was purified using flash columnchromatography on silica gel (5% methanol in dichloromethane) to provide 22 g of compound Int-5b. [M+H]=452.2

Step B—Synthesis of Compound Int-5c

Compound Int-5b (3.2 g, 7.09 mmol) was taken up in dioxane (50 mL) and to the resulting solution was added diisopropylazodicarboxylate (1.65 mL, 8.5 mmol) and ethanol (391 mg, 8.5 mmol). The resulting reaction was allowed to stir for fifteen minutes, then the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was dissolved in methanol (15 mL) and ammonium hydroxide (15 mL) and stirred for 3 hours to provide a suspension, which was filtered to provide 1.4 g of compound Int-5c. The remaining solution was concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained was triturated with chloroform to provide an additional 0.5 g of compound Int-5c. [M+H]=354.2

Step C—Synthesis of Compound Int-5d

Compound Int-5c (1.46 g, 4.13 mmol) was azeotroped with pyridine

(2×20 mL) and then suspended in pyridine (30 mL). To the resulting solution was added tetraisopropyldisiloxanedichloride (1.43 g, 4.43 mmol) dropwise over fifteen minutes and the resulting reaction was allowed to stir at room temperature for 3 hours. The reaction was then diluted with water (1 mL) and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was diluted with water and ethyl acetate. The organic layer were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained was azeotroped with toluene (2×50 mL). The product obtained was then purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (5% methanol in dichloromethane) to provide 2.25 g of product Int-5d as a white solid [M+H]=596.2.

Step D—Synthesis of Compound Int-5e

Compound Int-5d (0.4 g, 0.671 mmol) was taken up in dichloromethane (100 mL) and the resulting solution was cooled in an ice bath and then treated with Dess-Martin Periodinane (0.569 g, 1.34 mmol). The reaction was allowed to stir for about 15 hours and then filtered through a pad of silica and sodium sulfate. The solution was diluted with diethyl ether (400 mL) and washed with a mixture of saturated sodium bicarbonate and 10% sodium thiosulfate (1:1). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo and the resulting residue was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (hexanes/ethyl acetate 0%-100%) to provide 260 mg of Int-5e. [M+H]=594.2

Step E—Synthesis of Compound Int-5f

Methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (626 mg, 1.75 mmol) was taken up in tetrahydrofuran (15 mL) and to the resulting suspension was added KHMDS (0.5 M in tetrahydrofuran, 3.5 mL, 1.75 mmol). The resulting reaction was allowed to stir at room temperature for 20 minutes, then was cooled in an ice bath and a solution of compound Int-5e (260 mg, 0.438 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (5 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature and was stirred for 4 hours. The reaction was then quenched with saturated ammonium chloride and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (2:1 hexanes/ethyl acetate) to provide 170 mg of compound Int-5f. [M+H]=592.2

Example 6 Preparation of Compound 1

Step A—Synthesis of Compound Int-6a

A solution of compound Int-3e (500 mg, 0.955 mmol), compound Int-Ic (20 mg, 0.033 mmol) and compound Int-2b (3.0 g, 15.01 mmol) was allowed to stir for 5 minutes, then a solution of phenylsilane (121 mg, 1.11 mmol) in ethanol (3 mL) was added dropwise over 2 minutes and the reaction was allowed to stir for 30 minutes. The reaction was quenched with brine and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (2:1 hexanes/ethyl acetate) to provide 197 mg of compound Int-6a. [M+H]=567.2

Step B—Synthesis of Compound 1

To a solution of compound Int-6a (75 mg, 0.132 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) was added tetrabutylammonium fluoride (0.265 mmol). The reaction was allowed to stir for 1 hour and then the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was dissolved in 7M ammonia in methanol (2 mL) and stirred for 3 hours. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (20% methanol in dichloromethane) to provide 11 mg of compound 1. [M+H]=283.7; ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD): δ: 8.15 (d, 1H, J=7.5 Hz), 5.94 (s, 1H), 5.90 (bs, 1H), 4.0 (m, 2H), 3.9 (m, 1H), 3.79 (m, 1H), 1.3 (s, 3H).

The following compound of the present invention was made using the methods described in the Example above.

Compound No. Structure MS (M + H) 2

325.3

Example 7 Preparation of Compound 4

Step A—Synthesis of Compound Int-7a

A solution of compound Int-4-d (5.0 g, 10.36 mmol), compound Int-1c (125 mg, 0.207 mmol) and compound Int-2b (24 g, 122 mmol) was allowed to stir for 5 minutes, then a solution of phenylsilane (1.34 g, 12.43 mmol) in ethanol (25 mL) was added dropwise over 30 minutes. The resulting reaction was allowed to stir for 30 minutes, then the reaction was quenched with brine and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (4:1 hexanes/ethyl acetate) to provide 2.5 g of compound Int-7a. [M+H]=526.2

Step B—Synthesis of Compound 4

To a solution of compound Int-7a (1.6 g, 3.04 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (35 mL) was added tetrabutylammonium fluoride (1.0 M, 6.09 mmol). The resulting reaction was allowed to stir for 1 hour, then the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (10% methanol in dichloromethane) to provide 650 mg of compound 4. [M+Na]=306.0; ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD): δ: 8.17 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 5.85 (s, 1H), 5.69 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 4.09 (m, 1H), 3.95 (m, 2H), 3.77 (m, 1H), 1.36 (s, 3H).

Example 8 Preparation of Compound 8

Step A—Synthesis of Compound Int-8a

Compound Int-5e was converted to compound Int-8a using the method described in Example 7, Step A. [M+H]=635.2.

Step B—Synthesis of Compound 8

To a solution of compound Int-8a (80 mg, 0.126 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) was added tetrabutylammonium fluoride (1.0 M, 0.252 mL). The reaction was allowed to stir for 2 hours, then was concentrated in vacuo and the resulting residue was dissolved in 7M ammonia in methanol (3 mL) and allowed to stir at 100° C. in a pressure tube for about 15 hours. The reaction mixture was then cooled to room temperature and concentrated in vacuo and the resulting residue was purified using column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol 0% to 5%) to provide 29 mg of compound 8. [M+H]=373.2. ¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD): δ: 8.3 (s, 1H), 5.86 (s, 1H), 4.52 (q, 2H, J=7.1 Hz), 4.49 (d, 1H, J=9.21 Hz), 4.0 (m, 2H), 3.84 (m, 1H), 1.42 (t, 3H, J=7.09 Hz), 1.15 (s, 3H).

The following compound of the present invention was made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 51

Compound Int-5e methyl ether analog 337.2

Example 9 Preparation of Compound 19

To a solution of compound 8 (41 mg, 0.117 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (2 mL) was added N-methylimidazole (77 mg, 0.936 mmol). The reaction was allowed to stir for 5 minutes, then a solution of compound Int-9a (97 mg, 0.351 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction was allowed to stir for 12 hours, then was concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (5% dichloromethane/methanol) to provide compound 19 (56.6 mg).

Phosphorylamino chloride reactants of type Int-9a can be made using the methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,879,815.

Example 10 Preparation of Compound 7

Compound 1 (20 mg, 0.071 mmol) was taken up in tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) and to the resulting suspension was added t-butylMgCl (0.354 mL, 0.354 mmol). The reaction was allowed to stir for 5 minutes, then a solution of compound Int-9a (20 mg, 0.071 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (1 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction was allowed to stir for 12 hours, then was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (10% dichloromethane/methanol) to provide compound 7 (2 mg).

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents. Note that the designation of isomers is arbitrary and only suggests that the compound is a single isomer. If no designation is present, the compound is a mixture of diastereomers at phosphorus. Diastereoisomers at phosphorus were separated by super critical fluid chromatography or by reverse phase column chromatography.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 3

Compound 1 616.2 5

Compound 4 525.2 6

Compound 4 617.2 9

Compound 8 592.2 10

Compound 8 606.2 11

Compound 8 648.2 12

Compound 8 684.2 13

Compound 1 538.2 14

Compound 1 580.2 15

Compound 4 539.2 16

Compound 4 581.2 20

Compound 8 620.2 21

Compound 4 653.2 22

Compound 1 552.2 26

Compound 4 567.2 27

Compound 8 634.2 28

Compound 4 553.2 29

Compound 8 620.2 30

Compound 1 552.2 31

Compound 1 566.2 34

Compound 4 543.2 35

Compound 8 610.2 36

Compound 1 542.2 37

Compound 4 567.2 38

Compound 4 567   39

Compound 4 587.2 40

Compound 4 559.2 41

Compound 4 574.5 42

Compound 4 596.5 45

Compound 4 601.2 47

Compound 1 574.2 48

Compound 1 566.2 49

Compound 4 573   50

Compound 4 559   52

Compound 51 670.2 53

Compound 51 578.2 54

Compound 51 592.2 55

Compound 51 634.2 56

Compound 51 606.2 57

Compound 51 628.2 58

Compound 8 626.2 59

Compound 8 654.2 60

Compound 8 634.2 61

Compound 8 634.2 62

Compound 8 634.2 63

Compound 8 626.2 64

Compound 8 678.3 68

Compound 1 556.2 69

Compound 8 668 .3 70

Compound 8 642.3 71

Compound 8 640.4 72

Compound 8 664.3 77

Compound 51 612.2 78

Compound 51 606.2 79

Compound 51 612.1 80

Compound 51 680.2 89

Compound 4 611.2 90

Compound 4 611.2 92

Compound 4 623.0 93

Compound 1 558.2 94

Compound 1 558.0 95

Compound 1 586.2 96

Compound 1 586.2 97

Compound 1 578.2 98

Compound 4 627   99

Compound 4 559   100

Compound 4 559   140

Compound 4 557.2 141

Compound 8 624.2 144

Compound 4 593.2 145

Compound 8 660.2 146

Compound 8 726.2 173

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 610.2 174

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 610.2 175

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 624.2 176

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 624.2 177

Compound 4 609.2 178

Compound 4 623.2 179

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 564.2 180

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 564.2 181

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 614.2 182

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 614.2 183

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 572.7 184

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 572.7 185

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 558.2 186

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 558.0 187

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 542.2 188

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 542.2 189

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 572.1 190

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 572.2 191

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 600.2 192

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 600.2 193

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 592.0 194

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 592.0 195

Compound 1 621.1 196

Compound 1 570.2 197

Compound 1 610.2 198

Compound 1 572.2 199

Compound 1 566.2 200

Compound 1 574.2 201

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 558.2 202

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 558.0 203

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 586.2 204

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 586.2 205

Compound 1 578.2 206

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 614.8 207

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 614.8 208

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 619.2 209

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 619.2 212

Compound 4 654.0 [M + 23] 213

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 597.2 214

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 597.2 215

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 583.2 216

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 583.2 219

Compound 4 611.2 220

Compound 4 587.2 221

Compound 51 650.2 222

Compound 4 597.2 223

Compound 51 636.2 224

Compound 51 650.2 225

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 597.2 226

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 597.2 227

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 583.2 228

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 583.2 229

Compound 4 593.0 230

Compound 4 651.2 231

Compound 4 621.0 232

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 611.2 233

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 611.2 234

Compound 4 597.2 235

Compound 4 575.2 236

Compound 4 559.2 237

Compound 4 587.2 238

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 626.1 239

Compound 51 646.2 240

Compound 51 640.2 241

Compound 51 664.2 242

Compound 51 596.2 243

Compound 51 624.2 244

Compound 51 676.0 245

Compound 51 620.2 246

Compound 51 654.2 247

Compound 51 610.2 248

Compound 51 646.0 249

Compound 51 620.2 256

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 612.2 257

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 612.2 258

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 612.1 259

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 612.1 264

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 664.2 265

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 664.2 266

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 596.2 267

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 596.2 268

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 624.2 269

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 624.2 270

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 610.2 271

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 610.2 272

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 680.2 273

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 680.2 274

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 646.2 275

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 646.2 278

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 654.2 279

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 654.2 280

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 640.2 281

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 640.2 282

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 674.0/676.0 283

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 674.0/676.0 284

Compound 51 640.2 285

Compound 51 654.2 286

Compound 51 668.2 289

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 626.2 290

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 626.2 293

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 640.2 294

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 640.2 295

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 654.2 296

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 654.2 299

Compound 4 601.2 300

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 601.2 301

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 601.2 302

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 637.2 (M + Na) 303

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 637.2 (M + Na) 304

Compound 4 634.9 305

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 644.5 306

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 644.5 307

Compound 8 694.2 308

Compound 8 660   309

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 626.2 310

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 626.2 311

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 626   312

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 626   313

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 694   314

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 694.2 315

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 654.2 316

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 654.2 317

Compound 1 622.2 318

Compound 1 546.2 319

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 690.3 320

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 690.3 321

Compound 51 676.2 322

Compound 8 614.2 323

Compound 4 573   324

Compound 4 627   325

Compound 4 559   326

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 559   327

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 559   328

Compound 4 623   329

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 517   330

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 558.2 331

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 558.0 332

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 586.2 333

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 586.2 334

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 596.2 335

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 596.2 336

Compound 1 578.2 337

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 592.2 338

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 592.2 339

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 626.2 340

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 626.2 343

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 592.0 344

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 592.0 345

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 462.2 346

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 462.2 347

Compound 8 638.3 348

Compound 8 688.2 349

Compound 8 640.3 350

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 668.3 351

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 668.3 352

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 640.4 353

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 640.4 356

Compound 8 632.5 357

Compound 8 682.5 358

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 640.3 359

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 640.3 360

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 688.5 361

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 688.5 362

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 632.5 363

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 632.5 364

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 638.3 365

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 638.3 366

Compound 8 652.2 367

Compound 4 585.2 368

Compound 8 669.2 369

Compound 4 601.2 370

Compound 8 703.0 371

Compound 8 678.2 372

Compound 4 636.2 373

Compound 4 611.2 373

Compound 8 670.2 374

Compound 4 603.1 375

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 603.2 376

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 603.1 377

Compound 4 601.2 378

Compound 4 587.2 379

Compound 4 581.2 380

Compound 4 609.1 385

Compound 138 637.0 386

Compound 138 602.6 387

Compound 138 616.6 388

Compound 137 637.0 389

Compound 137 637.0 390

Compound 137 602.6 391

Compound 137 616.6 392

Compound 137 630.6 393

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 601.2 394

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 601.2

Example 11 Preparation of Compound 17

A solution of compound 8 (5 mg, 10.4 umol) and 1M HCl (0.5 mL) in tetrahydrofuran (0.5 mL) and was heated to 50° C. and allowed to stir at this temperature for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was then concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained was purified using flash column chromatography on silica gel (0 to 20% dichloromethane/methanol) to provide 3 mg of compound 17. [M+H]=323.2;

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD): δ: 8.22 (s, 1H), 5.81 (s, 1H), 4.34 (m, 1H), 4.0 (m, 2H), 3.81 (m, 1H), 1.17 (s, 3H).

Example 12 Preparation of Compound 18

To a stirred solution of compound 4 (0.0040 g, 0.155 mmol) and tetrazole (0.033 g; 0.466 mmol) in anhydrous acetonitrile (3 mL) was added methyl N,N,N′,N′-tetraisopropylphosphorodiamidite (61 μL) dropwise. The resulting solution was allowed to stir for 3 hours, then m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (0.077 g of 70% pure material; 0.311 mmol) was added and the reaction was allowed to stir for 15 minutes. The reaction was quenched with 10% aq. sodium thiosulfate (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×10 mL). The collected organic phases were washed with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified using silica gel plate chromatography using (CH₂Cl₂:methanol; 20:1) to provide compound 18 (0.002 g) as a white solid, as a mixture of diastereomers. [M+H⁺]=360.0. The diastereomers were separated using standard techniques such as reverse phase chromatography (acetonitrile/0.1N formic acid water) or SFC (super critical fluid chromatography using isopropanol/hexanes as eluent).

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents. Note that the designation of isomers is arbitrary and only suggests that the compound is a single isomer. If no designation is present, the compound is a mixture of diastereomers at phosphorus.

Compound Starting MS No. Structure Material (M + H) 18

Compound 4 360.0 19

Compound 1 387.2 23

Compound 8 455.2 24

Compound 8 455.2 25

Compound 8 427.2 32

Compound 1 359.2 33

Compound 1 387.2 43

Compound 4 388.2 44

Compound 4 388.2 65

Compound 1 421.2 67

Compound 1 522.2 68

Compound 1 401.2 73

Compound 8 481.3 81

Compound 4 387.1 82

Compound 4 387.1 83

Compound 4 399.1 84

Compound 4 399.1 85

Compound 4 387.1 86

Compound 4 387.2 87

Compound 4 436.0 88

Compound 4 436.0 91

Compound 4 422.2 101

Compound 8 467.2 102

Compound 51 453.3 103

Compound 51 453.3 104

Compound 51 453.3 105

Compound 51 467.0 106

Compound 8 495.0 107

Compound 8 467.1 108

Compound 8 467.1 109

Compound 51 481.4 110

Compound 51 467.2 111

Compound 51 467.2 112

Compound 51 481.3 113

Compound 51 481.3 114

Compound 8 481.3 115

Compound 8 481.3 116

Compound 8 455.2 117

Compound 8 455.2 118

Compound 4 374.05 118

Compound 4 359.9 119

Compound 4 446.10 120

Compound 4 446.10 121

Compound 4 388 122

Compound 4 436.2 123

Compound 8 489.20 124

Compound 8 503 125

Compound 8 523.20 126

Compound 8 523.20 127

Compound 8 489.20 128

Compound 8 534 129

Compound 8 513 130

Compound 8 455.4 131

Compound 51 489 132

Compound 51 499 133

Compound 51 441 134

Compound 51 441 135

Compound 545 410.2 136

Compound 545 410.2 560

Compound 4 422.2 561

Compound 4 436.0 [M + 23] 562

Compound 4 436.0 [M + 23] 563

Compound 4 388.2 564

Compound 4 388.2 565

Compound 4 388.2 566

Compound 4 388.2 567

Compound 4 374 568

Compound 4 374

Example 13 Preparation of Compound 74

A solution of compound 4 (15 mg, 0.05 mmol, 1.00 equiv) in trimethyl phosphate (1.0 mL) was placed under nitrogen atmosphere and to the solution was added proton sponge (17 mg, 0.08 mmol, 1.50 equiv). The reaction was cooled to 0° C., then phosphoryl trichloride (32 mg, 0.21 mmol, 4.50 equiv) was added at 0° C. The resulting reaction was allowed to stir for 4 hours at 0° C., then a solution of pyrophosphate (200 mg, 0.37 mmol, 5.00 equiv), N,N-dimethylformamide (1.0 mL) and tributylamine (0.03 mL, 10.00 equiv) was added. The resulting reaction was allowed to stir for 1 hour at 0° C., then the reaction was then quenched by the addition of 3.0 mL of triethylammonium bicarbonate buffer (1M). The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained was purified using Prep-HPLC with the following conditions (1#-Pre-HPLC-001 (SHIMADZU)): Column, 1#-PrepC-008 (Atlantis HILIC Silica 19* 150 186003959 0110182551kk 03), mobile phase: acetonitrile and Water with 50 mmol ammonium bicarbonate (88% Water with 50 mmol ammonium bicarbonate down to 62% in 17 min); Detector, UV 220 & 254 nm. This provided 12 mg (43%) of compound 74 as a light yellow solid. ¹H-NMR 74 (400 MHz, D₂O): δ 7.97 (d, 1H, J=7.5 Hz), 6.01 (s, 1H), 5.94 (d, 1H, J=7.5 Hz), 4.38 (m, 1H), 4.28 (m, 2H), 4.14 (m, 1H), 1.4 (s, 3H); ³¹P-NMR 74 (162 MHz, D₂O): δ −9.8 (1P), −10.6 (1P), −22.3 (1P); MS (ESI) m/z 523.0 [M]

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 74

Compound 4 522 [M − H]− 75

Compound 1 See Below 76

Compound 17 See Below

Characterization Data for Compound 75:

¹H-NMR 75 (400 MHz, D₂O): δ: 8.02 (d, 1H, J=8.0 Hz), 6.2 (d, 1H, J=8.0 Hz), 6.04 (s, 1H), 4.38 (m, 1H), 4.37 (m, 2H), 4.25 (m, 1H), 1.34 (s, 3H); ³¹P-NMR 75 (162 MHz, D₂O): −δ 10.0 (1P), −10.5 (1P), −22.4 (1P); MS (ESI) m/z 522.0 [M]

Characterization Data for Compound 76:

¹H-NMR 76 (400 MHz, D₂O): δ 8.09 (s, 1H), 5.95 (s, 1H), 5.94 (d, 1H, J=9.21 Hz), 4.58 (m, 1H), 4.38 (m, 1H), 4.34 (m, 1H), 4.23 (m, 1H), 1.26 (s, 3H); ³¹P-NMR 76 (162 MHz, D₂O): δ −9.38 (1P), −10.5 (1P), −22.08 (1P); MS (ESI) m/z 562.0 [M]

Example 14 Preparation of Compound 137

Step A. Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-14a

To a 150 mL thick-walled glass tube was added azetidine (4.00 g) and 200 proof EtOH (81 mL). To this stirring solution was added 6-chloroguanosine, Int-14a (4.23 g). The glass tube was sealed and heated in an oil bath at 65° C. After 50 hours, the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature. The reaction mixture was transferred to a 1000 mL roundbottom flask and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was co-evaporated with 80% MeOH:DCM (500 mL) and dried under high vacuum at room temperature. The crude material Int-14b was used without purification in the next step.

Step B: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-14c

To the 1000 mL roundbottom containing compound Int-14b (from above) was added pyridine (100 mL). The flask was flushed with nitrogen, capped with a rubber septum, and the system kept under a slight nitrogen stream. To the stirring mixture was added TIPDSiCl₂ (4.93 mL); dropwise over 20 minutes. After 2.5 hours of stirring at room temperature, water (˜5-8 mL) was added dropwise and stirred for additional 5 minutes. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc (2000 mL) and H₂O (1700 mL) and stirred vigorously for 0.25 hours. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted again with EtOAc (2000 mL). The organic layers were combined, dried over Na₂SO₄, and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the residue was purified using silica gel chromatography 0/100 to 4/96 MeOH/CH₂Cl₂. to provide Int-14c (3.52 g). LC-MS (M+H)⁺ 565.3

Step C: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-14d

To a dry, nitrogen flushed 1000 mL roundbottom flask was added Int-14c (6.317 g) and pyridine (103 mL). To this stirring solution were added Ac₂O (105.5 mL) and DMAP (1.367 g), respectively. The flask was capped and the solution was stirred at room temperature. After 22 hours, the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and co-evaporated in vacuo with toluene (5×400 mL). The residue was taken up in EtOAc (2000 mL) and washed with satd NH₄Cl (1000 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (1500 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with saturated NH₄Cl (1000 mL), brine (1000 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product Int-14d was carried forward without purification.

Step D: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-14e

To the 3000 mL roundbottom containing Int-14d (from above) was added 7N NH₃ in MeOH (205.3 mL). The reaction was sealed and stirred at room temperature overnight. The solvent was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified using silica gel chromatography 0/100 to 10/90 MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ to provide Int 14e (3.52 g). LC-MS (M+H)⁺ 607.3

Step E: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-14f

To a solution of Int-14e (3 g) in CH₂Cl₂ (30 mL) and water (6 mL) cooled in an ice bath were added KBr (59 mg) and TEMPO (77 mg). The reaction was treated with a mixture of bleach (6%, 6.1 mL)/aq. NaHCO₃ (1.25 g in 6 ml water) dropwise over 15 minutes. Mass spec analysis showed SM and some product (as MeOH adduct). Added another portion of bleach (˜6 mL) dropwise, and the reaction was stirred vigorously overnight (bath temp ˜10° C.). The reaction was quenched by the addition of satd Na₂S₂O₃ solution (150 mL), and EtOAc (125 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (125 mL), and the combined organic layers were washed with brine (150 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide Int-14f (3 g, white foam) that was used without purification.

Step F: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-14g

To methyl triphenylphosphonium bromide (10.6 g) in THF (50 mL) was added KHMDS in THF (1M, 29.6 mL). The reaction mixture turned to deep yellow color and remained. The reaction was then cooled to 0° C., and treated dropwise with Int-14f (2.99 g) in THF (50 mL). The reaction was warmed to room temperature overnight and then quenched with saturated NH₄Cl (150 mL)/brine (100 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×250 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (200 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude material was purified using silica gel chromatography 0/100 to 100/0 of EtOAc/hexanes that afforded Int-14g (1.4 g). LC-MS (M+H)⁺ 603.2

Step G: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-14h

To Int-14g (1.4 g) and catalyst Int-ic (28 mg) was added tosyl azide (13.74 g). The solution was stirred for 5 minutes and then phenyl silane (302 mg) in EtOH (6 mL), was added dropwise, over 45 minutes. The reaction was quenched with EtOAc (150 mL) and brine (150 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (150 mL). The combined organic layers were dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude material was purified using silica gel chromatography 0/100 to 60/40 of EtOAc/hexanes to provide Int-14h (710 mg). LC-MS (M+H)⁺ 646.2

Step H: Synthesis of Compound 137

To a solution of Int-14h (700 mg) in THF (20 mL) at was added TBAF in THF (1M, 2.17 mL) dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours and then was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was taken in 7N NH₃ in MeOH (22 mL) and transferred to a thick-walled glass tube. A solution of NH₄OH (8 mL) was added and the reaction was heated to 100° C. for 48 hours. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo and the crude residue was purified using silica gel chromatography 0/100 to 10/90 of MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ to provide compound 137 (365 mg). LC-MS (M+H)⁺ 362.2

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 138

Int-14a 362.2

Example 15 Preparation of Compound 139

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 15b and Int 15c

A stirred solution of Int-15a (14.2 g, 46.4 mmol) in dichloromethane (112 mL) was treated with pentafluorophenol (8.55 g, 46.4 mmol) in one portion. The solution was cooled to 0° C. and triethylamine (6.47 mL, 46.4 mmol) was added dropwise under nitrogen. The reaction was stirred overnight at room temperature. LCMS shows mainly product. The reaction mixture was washed with water (100 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified by silica gel column chromatography (0-30% hexanes/ethyl acetate) to provide 12.56 g of a white solid. The solid was recrystallized using 10% MBTE/hexanes to provide compound Int 15b (6.15 g) as a white solid. The mother liquor (5.3 g of a 4:1 mixture isomer 2/isomer 1) was purified by silica gel chromatography (1:1 hexanes/ethyl acetate) to provide Int 15c (4.04 g) and additional Int 15b (805 mg).

Phosphorylamino chloride reactants of type Int-15a can be synthesized using the methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,879,815.

Step B: Synthesis of Compound 139

A stirred solution of compound 4 (500 mg, 1.76 mmol) in THF (20 mL) was treated with 1.0M t-butylmagnesium chloride (4.2 mL, 4.2 mmol). After 5 minutes the reaction was treated dropwise with Int 15 b (840 mg, 1.85 mmol) dissolved in THF (5 mL). The reaction was stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. The reaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride (20 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×20 mL). The organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified by silica gel column chromatography (0→5% methanol/methylene chloride) to provide product 139 (730 mg, 75%). LC-MS-139: (ES, m/z): 567.2 [M+H]⁺

¹H-NMR-139: (400 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): δ 7.67 (d, 1H, J=8 hZ), 7.4-7.35 (m, 2H), 7.3-7.25 (m, 2H), 7.2 (m, 1H), 5.84 (s, 1H), 5.62 (d, 1H, J=8 hZ), 4.95 (m, 1H), 4.5 (m, 1H), 4.35 (m, 1H), 4.05 (m, 2H), 3.9 (m, 1H), 1.35 (s, 3H), 1.33 (bs, 3H), 1.22 (s, 3H), 1.20 (s, 3H).

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents. Note that the designation of isomers is arbitrary and only suggests that the compound is a single isomer.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 142

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 592.2 143

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 592.2 147

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 553.2 148

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 553.2 149

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 557.2 150

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 557.2 151

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 539.2 152

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 539.2 153

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 581.2 154

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 581.2 155

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 617.2 156

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 617.2 157

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 553.2 158

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 525.2 159

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 525.2 160

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 648.2 161

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 648.2 162

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 606.2 163

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 620.2 164

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 620.2 165

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 620.2 166

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 620.2 167

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 634.2 168

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 634.2 169

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 567.2 170

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 567.2 171

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 684.2 172

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 684.2 210

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 567.2 211

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 567.2 217

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 575.2 218

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 575.2 251

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 592.2 252

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 606.2 253

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 606.2 254

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 628.2 255

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 628.2 260

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 578.2 261

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 578.2 262

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 620.2 263

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 620.2 276

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 620.2 277

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 620.2 287

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 606.2 288

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 606.2 291

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 634.2 292

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 634.2 297

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 670.2 298

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 670.2 341

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 574.2 342

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 574.2 354

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 642.2 355

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 642.2 381

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 538.2 382

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 552.2 383

  Isomer 1 Compound 1 538.2 384

  Isomer 2 Compound 1 538.2 574

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 634.24 575

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 634.24 576

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 648.2 577

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 648.2 622

  Isomer 1 Compound 573 575.1

Example 16 Preparation of Compound 395, 396, 397

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 16b

A stirred solution of phenoxyphosphonoyl dichloride (2.0 g, 9.48 mmol, 1.00 equiv) in dichloromethane (40 mL), cyclopropylamine (500 mg, 8.76 mmol, 1.00 equiv) was treated with triethylamine (2.0 g, 19.76 mmol, 2.00 equiv) dropwise with stirring at −78° C. The resulting solution was stirred for 1.0 hour at −78° C. in a liquid nitrogen bath. The residue was applied onto a silica gel column with 3:1 petroleum ether/ethyl acetate to give compound Int 16b as yellow oil (700 mg, 32%). ¹H-NMR-Int-16b (CDCl, ppm): δ 7.38-7.31 (m, 3H), 7.29-7.18 (m, 2H), 4.18 (d, J=14.0 Hz, 1H), 0.60-0.53 (m, 4H). ³¹P-NMR-Int-16b (CDCl₃,ppm): δ 11.29, 10.92

Step B: Synthesis of Compounds 395, 396 and 397

A stirred solution of compound 51 (100 mg, 0.30 mmol, 1.00 equiv) in tetrahydrofuran (15 mL) was added Int-16b (206 mg, 0.89 mmol, 3.00 equiv). The reaction was then treated with 1.7 M tert-Butylmagnesium chloride (2 mL, 10.00 equiv) dropwise with stirring at −60° C. in 10 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred for 2.0 hours at −40˜−20° C. in a liquid nitrogen bath. After the reaction was completed, it was quenched by the addition of aqueous NH₄Cl (2 mL) and diluted with ethyl acetate (10 mL). The organic layer was washed with saturated NH₄Cl (8 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained (50 mg) was purified by Prep-HPLC with the following conditions (1#-Pre-HPLC-011 (Waters): Column, SunFire Prep C18, 19*150 mm 5 um; mobile phase, Water and CH₃CN (20.0% CH₃CN up to 56.0% in 13 min, up to 100.0% in 1 min, down to 20.0% in 1 min); Detector, UV 254 & 220 nm. This provided 395 as a white solid (8.6 mg), 396 as a white solid (2 mg), and 397 as a white solid (3.8 mg). LCMS (395): (ES, m/z): 632[M+H]⁺. ¹H-NMR-395 (CD₃OD, ppm): δ 7.87 (s, 1H), 7.23-7.16 (m, 4H), 7.08-7.05 (m, 1H), 5.78 (s, 1H), 4.39-4.31 (m, 3H), 4.13-4.09 (m, 1H), 3.96 (s, 1H), 2.31-2.27 (m, 1H), 1.10-1.03 (s, 3H), 0.43-0.41 (s, 4H).

³¹P-NMR-(395) (CD₃OD, ppm) δ 3.99.

LCMS (396): (ES, m/z): 632M+H]⁺. ¹H-NMR-396 (CD₃OD, ppm): δ 7.88 (s, 1H), 7.27-7.22 (m, 2H), 7.15-7.05 (m, 3H), 5.78 (s, 1H), 4.51-4.40 (m, 1H), 4.39-4.37 (m, 2H), 4.14-4.10 (m, 1H), 3.95 (s, 1H), 2.31-2.26 (m, 1H), 1.09 (s, 3H), 0.45-0.36 (s, 4H).

³¹P-NMR-396 (CD₃OD, ppm): δ 6.00.

LCMS (397): (ES, m/z): 632[M+H]⁺. ¹H-NMR-397 (CD₃OD, ppm): δ 8.14 (s, 1H), 7.30-7.18 (m, 2H), 7.17-7.07 (m, 3H), 5.82 (s, 1H), 5.39 (t, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 4.20-4.17 (m, 1H), 4.16-4.00 (m, 4H), 3.54-3.20 (m, 1H), 2.40-2.35 (m, 1H), 1.11-1.06 (m, 3H), 0.55-0.45 (m, 4H).

³¹P-NMR-397 (CD₃OD, ppm): δ 5.43.

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents. Note that the designation of isomers is arbitrary and only indicates that the compound is a single isomer. No designation of stereochemistry indicates a mixture of isomers at phosphorus.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 398

Compound 4 507.2 399

Compound 4 523.15 400

Compound 4 493.10 401

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 479 402

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 479 403

Compound 4 521.3 404

Compound 4 535.1 405

Compound 4 507.2 406

Compound 4 493 407

Compound 4 479 408

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 546 409

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 546 410

Compound 8 592 411

Compound 8 574 412

Compound 8 602 413

Compound 51 546 414

Compound 51 532.25 415

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 576 416

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 576 417

  Isomer 3 Compound 51 576 418

Compound 51 546.1 419

Compound 51 546.1 420

Compound 51 532.20 421

Compound 51 560 422

Compound 51 574.30 423

Compound 51 588 424

Compound 51 578 425

Compound 51 578 426

Compound 51 560 427

Compound 51 574 428

Compound 51 588 623

Compound 4 507.2 624

Compound 4 523.15 625

Compound 4 493.10 626

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 479 627

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 479 628

Compound 4 521.3 629

Compound 4 535.1 630

Compound 4 507.2 631

Compound 4 493 632

Compound 4 479 633

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 546 634

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 546 635

Compound 8 592 636

Compound 8 574 637

Compound 8 602 638

Compound 8 588.4 639

Compound 51 532.25 640

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 576 641

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 576 642

  Isomer 3 Compound 51 576 643

Compound 51 546.1 644

Compound 51 546.1 645

Compound 51 532.50 646

Compound 51 578 647

Compound 51 578 648

Compound 51 560 649

Compound 51 574 650

Compound 51 588

Example 17 Preparation of Compounds 429, 430 and 431

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 17b

A solution of Int 17a (1 g, 6.09 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (10 mL) was cooled to −20° C. and then trichlorophosphine (1.66 g, 12.21 mmol) was added dropwise with stirring at the same temperature in 10 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred at −15° C. for 1 hour. The reaction was then quenched by the addition of a mixture of triethylamine/water (3.7 g/3.7 g). The resulting mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the residue was applied onto a silica gel column with 0-5% methanol/dichloromethane as the eluent to give 0.5 g (crude, contain excess triethylamine) of Int-17b as colorless syrup, which was used to the next reaction step directly without further purification.

Step B: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 17c

A stirred solution of dry Int-17b (32 mg, 0.07 mmol) and dry compound 8 (25 mg, 0.07 mmol) in dry pyridine (5 mL) was cooled to −20° C. and then 2,2-dimethylpropanoyl chloride (17 mg, 0.14 mmol, 2.00 equiv) was added dropwise with stirring at the same temperature in 5 minutes. After the resulting solution was stirred for 0.5 hours at −15° C. and then for an additional 5 hours at room temperature, the resulting mixture was concentrated in vacuo to give Int-17c as a white solid (40 mg), which was used to the next reaction step directly without further purification.

Step C: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 17d

A stirred solution of dry Int-17c (40 mg, 0.045 mmol) in dry perchloromethane (5 mL) was treated with dry ethyl (2R)-2-aminopropanoate (21 mg, 0.18 mmol). The resulting solution was stirred for 5 hours at room temperature, and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue was diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (2×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered and then concentrated in vacuo to give a crude oil. The crude product (30 mg) was purified by Prep-HPLC with the following conditions (1#-Pre-HPLC-001 (SHIMADZU)): Column, SunFire Prep C18, 19*150 mm 5 um; mobile phase, Water and CH₃CN (10.0% CH₃CN up to 47.0% in 10 min, hold 47.0% in 20 min, up to 100.0% in 1 min, down to 10.0% in 1 min); Detector, UV 254 & 220 nm. The fractions were collected and then lyophilized to give 3 compounds: 429 (0.6 mg, white solid); 430 (1.1 mg, white solid, yield 4%); 431 (3.5 mg, white solid, yield 12%)

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents. Note that the designation of isomers is arbitrary and only indicates that the compound is a single isomer. No designation of stereochemistry indicates a mixture of diasteromers.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 432

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 587.15 (M-Et) 433

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 615.15 434

  Isomer 3 Compound 4 615.15 435

  Isomer 4 Compound 4 615.15 436

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 620.3 437

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 620.00 438

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 620.20 439

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 632.35 440

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 632.35 441

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 632.30 442

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 630.2 443

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 630.2 444

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 630.2 445

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 682.00 446

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 682.00 447

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 682.00 448

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 666.0 449

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 666.0 450

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 666.0 451

Compound 8 660 452

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 656 453

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 656 454

Compound 8 674 455

Compound 8 628 456

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 634 457

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 634 458

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 634 459

  Isomer 4 Compound 8 634 460

Compound 8 670.00 461

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 462

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 463

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 464

Compound 8 648 465

Compound 8 628 466

Compound 8 628 467

Compound 4 557.3 468

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 567.3 469

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 567.3 470

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 581.4 471

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 581.3 472

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 692 473

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 692 474

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 692 475

Compound 8 670.4 476

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 690.4 477

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 690.4 478

Compound 8 743.6 479

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 676.40 480

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 676.40 481

Compound 8 624 482

Compound 8 897 483

Compound 8 643 484

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 648 485

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 648 486

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 648 487

  Isomer 4 Compound 8 648 488

Compound 8 656 489

Compound 8 632 490

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 646 491

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 646 492

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 646 493

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 674 494

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 674 495

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 674 496

  Isomer 4 Compound 8 674 497

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 616 497

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 616 498

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 616 499

Compound 8 644 500

Compound 8 644 501

Compound 8 644 502

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 676.5 503

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 676.5 504

  Isomer 3 Compound 51 676.5 505

Compound 51 652.5 506

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 662 507

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 662 508

  Isomer 3 Compound 51 662 509

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 656.4 510

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 656.4 511

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 634.5 512

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 634.5 513

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 620 514

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 620 515

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 614 516

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 614 517

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 634 518

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 634 519

Compound 51 620 520

Compound 51 620 521

Compound 51 620 522

Compound 51 610 523

Compound 51 610 524

Compound 51 620 525

Compound 51 610 526

Compound 51 610 651

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 587.15 (M-Et) 652

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 615.15 653

  Isomer 3 Compound 4 615.15 654

  Isomer 4 Compound 4 615.15 655

Compound 4 557.3 656

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 567.3 657

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 567.3 658

  Isomer 1 Compound 4 581.4 659

  Isomer 2 Compound 4 581.3 660

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 620.3 661

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 620.00 662

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 620.20 663

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 632.35 664

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 632.35 665

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 632.30 666

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 630.2 667

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 630.2 668

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 630.2 669

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 692 670

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 692 671

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 692 672

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 682.00 673

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 682.00 674

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 682.00 675

Compound 8 670.4 676

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 690.4 677

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 690.4 678

Compound 8 743.6 679

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 676.40 680

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 676.4 681

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 666.0 682

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 666.0 683

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 666.0 684

Compound 8 660 685

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 656 686

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 656 687

Compound 8 674 688

Compound 8 628 689

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 634 690

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 634 691

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 634 692

  Isomer 4 Compound 8 634 693

Compound 8 670.00 694

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 695

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 696

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 697

Compound 8 648 698

Compound 8 628 699

Compound 8 628 700

Compound 8 624 701

Compound 8 897 702

Compound 8 643 703

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 648 704

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 648 705

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 648 706

  Isomer 4 Compound 8 648 707

Compound 8 656 708

Compound 8 632 709

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 646 710

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 646 711

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 646 712

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 674 713

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 674 714

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 674 715

  Isomer 4 Compound 8 674 716

  Isomer 1 Compound 8 616 717

  Isomer 2 Compound 8 616 718

  Isomer 3 Compound 8 616 719

Compound 8 644 720

Compound 8 644 721

Compound 8 644 722

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 676.5 723

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 676.5 724

  Isomer 3 Compound 51 676.5 725

Compound 51 652.5 726

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 662 727

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 662 728

  Isomer 3 Compound 51 662 729

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 656.4 730

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 656.4 731

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 634.5 732

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 634.5 733

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 620 734

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 620 735

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 614 736

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 614 737

  Isomer 1 Compound 51 634 738

  Isomer 2 Compound 51 634 739

Compound 51 620 740

Compound 51 620 741

Compound 51 620 742

Compound 51 610 743

Compound 51 610 744

Compound 51 620 745

Compound 51 610 746

Compound 51 610

Example 18 Preparation of Compounds 527 and 528

A solution of compound 4 (50.0 mg, 0.18 mmol, 1.00 equiv) in 1,4-dioxane (dry) (20.0 mL) was allowed to stir for 30 min at ambient temperature. To the mixture was added Int-18a (61.3 mg, crude, about 1.40 equiv) followed by the addition of LiHMDS tetrahydrofuran solution (1.0 M) (0.4 mL, 2.20 equiv) dropwise with stirring at 15-20° C. The resulting solution was stirred overnight at 15˜20° C. The reaction progress was monitored by TLC/LCMS (dichloromethane/methanol=10:1). After the reaction was completed, the resulting mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was then purified by silica gel prep-TLC (dichloromethane/methanol=10:1) to give a crude white solid. The crude product (30 mg) was further purified by Prep-HPLC with the following conditions (1#-Pre-HPLC-011(Waters)): Column, SunFire Prep C18, 19*150 mm 5 um; mobile phase, Water and CH₃CN (20.0% CH₃CN up to 48.0% in 7 min, up to 100.0% in 1 min, down to 20.0% in 2 min); Detector, UV 254 & 220 nm. This resulted in product 527 (6.2 mg, 8%) as a white solid and isomer 2 528 (5.6 mg, 7%) as a white solid.

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents. Note that the designation of isomers is arbitrary and only indicates that the compound is a single isomer. No designation of stereochemistry indicates a mixture of isomers at phosphorus.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 529

Compound 1 430.2 530

Compound 1 430.2 531

Compound 4 430.95 532

Compound 8 498 533

Compound 8 498 534

Compound 8 512 535

Compound 8 502 536

Compound 51 484 537

Compound 51 488 538

Compound 51 480 539

Compound 51 480 540

Compound 51 466.20 541

Compound 51 494 542

Compound 51 498 570

Compound 8 508 571

Compound 8 480 572

Compound 8 494 747

Compound 4 430.95 748

Compound 4 430.95 749

Compound 4 429 750

Compound 4 429.1 751

Compound 4 435.1 752

Compound 4 435.1 753

Compound 8 498 756

Compound 8 508 757

Compound 8 480 758

Compound 8 494 759

Compound 8 498 760

Compound 8 512 761

Compound 8 502 762

Compound 8 496.25 763

Compound 8 496.20 764

Compound 8 453.9 765

Compound 8 454.05 766

Compound 51 484 767

Compound 51 488 768

Compound 51 480 769

Compound 51 480 770

Compound 51 466.20 771

Compound 51 494 772

Compound 51 498 773

Compound 51 482 774

Compound 51 482 775

Compound 51 437.9 776

Compound 51 438.15 777

Compound 51 452 778

Compound 51 512 779

Compound 51 512

Example 19 Preparation of Compound 543

A stirred solution of compound 103 (10 mg, 0.018 mmol) in THF (1 ml) was treated with 1-Methylimidazole (9 mg, 0.108 mmol in 0.5 ml of THF) followed by isobutryl chloride (11.4 mg, 0.10 mmol) in THF (0.5 ml). The reaction was allowed to stir at room temperature and monitored by LCMS until the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was quenched with saturated sodium bicarbonate (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified by silica gel column chromatography (0-→5% methanol/methylene chloride) to provide the desired product 543 (7.6 mg, 67%).

Example 20 Preparation of Compound 544

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 20b

A stirred solution of Int-20a (2.0 g, 8.15 mmol) in THF (15 mL) was cooled on an ice bath and treated with isopropanol (490 mg, 8.15 mmol) followed by the dropwise addition of 2,6-lutidine (873 mg, 8.15 mmol). The reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature for 2 hours. The solids were filtered and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to provide an oil with some solid. The residue was suspended in THF (15 mL) and stirred for 30 minutes. The solids were filtered off again and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to provide the Int 20b as a clear oil (1.9 g, 87%). Used without further purification.

Step B: Synthesis of Compound 544

A stirred solution of compound 51 (150 mg, 0.446 mmol) in THF (5 mL) was treated with N-methylimidazole (366 mg, 4.46 mmol). The reaction was stirred for 5 min and then treated with Int-20b (600 mg, 2.23 mmol) in THF (1 mL). The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and then quenched with EtOAc (20 mL) and water (20 mL). The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (2×10 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified by silica gel column chromatography (0 to 7% MeOH/DCM) to give pure product 544 (120 mg, 47%).

Example 21 Preparation of Compound 545

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 21c

To a stirred solution of Int 21b (15.9 kg, 43.95 mol, 1.00 equiv) in DCM (44.2 L) was added a solution of Int 21a (6.0 kg, 46.15 mol, 1.05 equiv) in DCM (12 L) slowly with stirring at 0-5° C. over 1.5 hours. The resulting solution was stirred for 3 hours at 0-5° C. The resulting mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was treated with petroleum-ether (50 L) to provide a precipitate. The solid was removed by vacuum filtration and the filtrate was distilled under reduced pressure (4 mm Hg) and the fraction at 110-140° C. was collected to provide Int 21c as a light yellow liquid (8.2 kg, 82.5%).

Step B: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 21d

To a stirred solution of Int 21c (4.2 kg, 19.63 mol, 1.00 equiv) in acetone (44.0 L), glycol (4.9 kg, 78.50 mol, 4.00 equiv), NaHCO₃(5.0 kg, 58.89 mol, 3.00 equiv) and water (8.4 L) was added KMnO₄ (3.3 kg, 20.61 mol, 1.05 equiv) in portions at −10° C. over 2 hours. The resulting solution was stirred for 1 hour at −10° C. in a liquid nitrogen bath. The reaction was then quenched by the addition of NaHSO₃ solution (6.0 L). The resulting solid was removed by filtration. The filtrate was diluted with H₂O (20 L) and extracted with ethyl acetate (4×3 L). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was treated with hexanes (20 L)-10° C. The resulting solid was collected by filtration and dried at 45° C. to provide Int 21d as a white solid (3.2 kg, 65.7%).

Step C: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 21e

A stirred solution of Int 21d (6.2 kg, 25.00 mol, 1.00 equiv) in dichloromethane (49.6 L) was treated with NEt₃ (7.6 kg, 75.00 mol, 3.00 equiv). The resulting solution was treated with thionyl chloride (3.9 kg, 1.30 equiv) dropwise with stirring at 25° C. over 3 hours. The resulting solution was stirred for 1 hour at 25° C. and then quenched by the addition of H₂O (15 L). The organic phase was washed with aqueous 10% NaHCO₃ (25 L) and then treated with aqueous NaOCl (124 L) and acetonitrile (6.2 L). The resulting mixture was stirred for an additional 48 hours at 15° C. and then quenched by the addition of aqueous Na₂SO₃ (45 L). The organic phase was washed with aqueous Na₂SO₃ (20 L) and brine (20 L). The organic phase was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide Int 21e as a light brown liquid (4.5 kg, 58.5%).

Step D: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 21f

To a solution of Int 21e (4.5 kg, 14.52 mol, 1.00 equiv) in acetone (27.0 L) and water (9.0 L) was added NaN₃ (943.6 g, 14.52 mol). The resulting solution was stirred for 16 hours at 50° C. and then the reaction was cooled and diluted with ethyl acetate (50 L). To the resulting mixture was treated with an aqueous solution of K₂HPO₄.3H₂O (5.1 kg in 45.0 L H₂O, 22.50 mol) and Bu₄NHSO₄ (5.2 kg, 15.25 mol, 1.05 equiv). The resulting mixture was stirred for an additional 1 hour, and then extracted with ethyl acetate (20 L). The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo resulting in Int 21f as a light yellow solid that was used in the next step without purification. (5.0 kg)

Step E: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 21g

To a 50 L reactor were charged Int 21f (5.0 kg, 8.42 mol, 1.00 equiv), HCl (36%, 1.5 L), ethanol (25.0 L). The resulting solution was stirred for 5 hours at 83° C. and then was concentrated in vacuo. The pH value of the residual solution was adjusted to 7 with aqueous NaHCO₃ (10%). The resulting solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (30 L). The organic layer and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was applied onto a silica gel column and eluted with ethyl acetate/hexane (1:1-6:1) to provide Int 21g as a white solid (1.1 kg, 40% for 2 steps).

Step F: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 21h

To a stirred solution of Int 21g (100 g, 534 mmol) in acetonitrile (500 mL) was added triethylamine (119 g, 1.17 mol) and DMAP (3.92 g, 32.1 mmol). The reaction was cooled to −10° C. and then treated with benzoyl chloride (136 mL, 1.17 mol) by additional funnel maintaining the reaction temperature below 20° C. After all starting material was consumed the reaction was charged with water (3 L) and extracted with ethyl acetate (4×1 L). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The white solid obtained (Int 21h) was used in the next step without purification (122.5 g, 58%).

Step G: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 21i

To a stirred suspension of 7-bromopyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-ylamine (0.372 g, 1.745 mmol) in THF (8 mL) was added TMS-Cl (0.446 ml, 3.49 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction was then cooled to −78° C. and n-BuLi (2.79 ml, 6.98 mmol) was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 1 hour and then Int 21h (0.69 g, 1.745 mmol) dissolved in THF (2 mL) was added dropwise. After 10 min at −78° C., the reaction mixture was allowed to warm up to 0° C. over 40 minutes. The reaction was quenched with aqueous ammonium chloride (15 mL) and then extracted with ethyl acetate (3×30 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography using a gradient of 10-70% EtOAc in hexane to provide Int 21i as a mixture of isomers (240 mg).

Step H: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 21j

A stirred solution of Int 21i (180 mg, 0.340 mmol) in methylene chloride (2 mL) was treated with boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (587 μl, 4.76 mmol) and triethylsilane (543 μl, 3.40 mmol). The reaction was stirred for 3 hours and then quenched with saturated sodium bicarbonate (10 mL) and extracted with methylene chloride (2×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified by silica gel column chromatography (5→50% ethyl acetate/hexanes to provide Int 21j (100 mg, 57.3%).

Step I: Synthesis of Compound 545

A flask containing Int 21j (80 mg, 0.156 mmol) was treated with 7 M Ammonia in MeOH (4 mL, 28 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at 65° C. for 5 hours. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue obtained was purified by silica gel column chromatography eluting with 10˜15% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ (to provide compound 545 (38 mg).

Example 22 Preparation of Compound 546

A stirred solution of Int 22a (40.8 mg, 0.128 mmol) and compound 545 (13 mg, 0.043 mmol) in THF (5 mL) was treated with 1-Methylimizazole (17.48 mg, 0.213 mmol). LC-MS showed the reaction completed after 1 hour. The reaction was quenched with water (10 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified by silica gel prep plate with 8% MeOH in DCM to provide product 546. (13 mg)

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents. Note that the designation of isomers is arbitrary and only indicates that the compound is a single isomer. No designation of stereochemistry indicates a mixture of isomers.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 547

Compound 545 589.2 548

Compound 545 575.2 549

Compound 545 561.0 550

Compound 545 561.0 551

Compound 545 597.1 552

Compound 545 653.3 553

Compound 545 611.0 554

Compound 545 611.0

Example 23 Preparation of Compound 555

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 23b

To a stirred solution of Int 23a (111 mg, 0.425 mmol) in THF (2 mL) was added 1.6 M n-BuLi (0.332 mL) dropwise at −78° C. The resulting reaction was stirred for 30 minutes and then compound Int 21h (150 mg, 0.379 mmol.) was added dropwise in THF (1 mL). The reaction was stirred at −78° C. for 2 hours and then quenched with ammonium chloride (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purifies by silica gel column chromatography (0%—>20% ethyl acetate/hexanes to provide Int 23b (90 mg). [M+H]=578.1

Step B: Synthesis of Compound 555

A stirred solution of Int 23b (90 mg, 0.156 mmol) in methylene chloride (10 mL) was treated with boron trifluoride dietherate (0.5 mL) and triethylsilane (0.5 mL). The reaction was stirred for 5 hours and then quenched with saturated sodium bicarbonate (10 mL) and extracted with methylene chloride (2×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was treated with 7M ammonia in methanol (3 mL) and stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained was purified by silica gel column chromatography (0 to 20% methanol/methylene chloride) to provide compound 555. (23 mg) [M+H]=323.

Example 24 Preparation of Compound 556, 557

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 24b

To a stirred solution of compound 51 (30 mg, 0.09 mmol, 1.00 equiv) in acetonitrile (3 mL) was added 1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarbonitrile (36.8 mg, 0.31 mmol, 3.50 equiv) and molecular sieves (4 Å). The resulting solution was stirred at 25° C. for 30 minutes. The reaction was cooled in an ice bath and a solution of Int 24a (33.6 mg, 0.12 mmol, 1.30 equiv) in acetonitrile (1.0 mL) was added dropwise over 15 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred at 25° C. for 3 hours and at 50° C. for 1 hour. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo to give 100 mg (crude) of Int 24 b as a white solid which was used for the next step directly without further purification.

Step B: Synthesis of Compounds 556 and 557

A solution of Int 24b (100 mg, 0.24 mmol, 1.00 equiv) in tetrahydrofuran/pyridine/water (78:20:2) (4 mL) was added iodine (101 mg, 0.24 mmol). The resulting solution was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour and then quenched by the addition of aqueous sodium thiosulfate (0.1M, 5 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×15 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude product (20 mg) was purified by Prep-HPLC with the following conditions (1#-Pre-HPLC-011(Waters)): Column, SunFire Prep C18, 19*150 mm 5 um; mobile phase, water and acetonitrile (20.0% acetonitrile up to 57.0% in 7 min, up to 100.0% in 2 min, down to 20.0% in 1 min); Detector, UV 254 & 220 nm. This resulted in 7.22 mg (6.96%) of 556 (isomer 1) as a white solid and 13.5 mg (13.01%) of 557 (isomer 2) as a white solid. LC-MS-556 (isomer 1): (ES, m/z): 441 [M+H]⁺

¹H-NMR-556 (isomer 1): (400 MHz, CDCl₃, ppm): δ 7.58 (s, 1H), 5.77 (s, 1H), 4.88-4.94 (m, 2H), 4.58-4.67 (m, 1H), 4.49-4.54 (m, 1H), 4.39-4.4 5 (m, 1H), 4.10 (s, 3H), 1.45-1.50 (m, 6H), 1.32 (s, 3H). ³¹P-NMR-556 (isomer 1): (121 MHz, CDCl₃, ppm): δ −7.43 LC-MS-557 (isomer 2): (ES, m/z): 441 [M+H]⁺

¹H-NMR-557 (isomer 2): (400 MHz, CDCl₃, ppm): δ 7.55 (s, 1H), 5.73 (s, 1H), 5.05-5.10 (m, 1H), 4.82-4.87 (m, 1H), 4.57-4.67 (m, 2H), 4.42-4.48 (m, 1H), 4.09 (s, 3H), 1.45 (s, 3H), 1.44 (s, 3H), 1.37 (s, 3H) ³¹P-557 (isomer 2): (121 MHz, CDCl₃, ppm): δ −4.24

Example 25 Preparation of Compound 558

To a stirred solution of compound 8 (120 mg, 0.343 mmol) in THF (10 mL) was added 1.0M t-butylmagnesium chloride (0.719 mL, 0.719 mmol) dropwise. The resulting reaction was allowed to stir for 5 minutes and then a solution of Int 25a (150 mg, 0.343 mmol) in THF (2 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction was stirred for 2 hours at room temperature and then quenched with saturated ammonium chloride (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified by silica gel column chromatography (0→5% methanol/methylene chloride) to provide product 558 (126 mg, 60.7%).

LC-MS-558: (ES, m/z): 606.2 [M+H]⁺

¹H-NMR-558: (400 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): δ 7.94 (s, 1H), 7.33 (m, 2H), 7.25 (m, 2H), 7.18 (m, 1H), 5.86 (s, 1H), 4.6-4.45 (m, 3H), 4.2 (m, 1H), 4.10 (m, 2H), 3.9 (m, 1H), 1.44 (t, 3H, J=7 Hz), 1.29 (d, 3H, J=6.3 Hz), 1.22 (t, 3H, J=7.1 Hz), 1.14 (s, 3H).

Example 26 Preparation of Compound 559

To a stirred suspension of compound 1 (120 mg, 0.425 mmol) in THF (8 mL) was added 1.0M t-butylmagnesium chloride (0.978 mL, 0.978 mmol). After 5 minutes the resulting suspension was treated dropwise with Int 15b (193 mg, 0.425 mmol) dissolved in THF (2 mL). The resulting reaction was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified by silica gel column (0→5% methanol/methylene chloride) to provide compound 559 (60 mg, 25.7%). LC-MS-559: (ES, m/z): 552.2 [M+H]⁺

¹H-NMR-559: (400 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): δ 7.67 (d, 1H, J=7.57 Hz), 7.38 (m, 2H), 7.28 (m, 2H), 7.22 (m, 1H), 5.94 (bs, 1H), 5.84 (d, 1H, J=7.5 hZ), 4.95 (m, 1H), 4.5 (m, 1H), 4.35 (m, 1H), 4.05 (m, 2H), 3.9 (m, 1H), 1.34 (d, 3H, J=7.1 Hz), 1.29 (s, 3H), 1.21 (s, 3H), 1.20 (s, 3H).

Example 27 Preparation of Compound 19

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate 27a

To a solution of compound 1 (100 mg, 0.35 mmol) in THF (3.5 mL) was added NMI (280 uL, 3.5 mmol, 10 equiv). The resulting reaction was allowed to stir for 5 minutes, then compound Int 20b (190 mg, 0.7 mmol, 2 equiv) was added and the reaction was allowed to stir for 16 hours. The reaction was quenched with water (5 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (2×50 mL), the organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue obtained was purified via flash column chromatography on silica gel (0 to 20% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂) to provide compound Int-27a (10 mg, 5%).

Step B: Synthesis of Compound 19

To a solution of Int 27a (10 mg, 0.02 mmol) in THF (1 mL) was added KOtBu (2 mg, 0.02 mmol, 1 equiv). The resulting reaction was allowed to stir for 4 hours, then concentrated in vacuo and purified via silica gel flash column chromatography (0 to 20% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂) followed by another purification via silica gel flash column chromatography (0 to 15% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂) to provide the product 19 (5 mg, 67%).

Example 28 Preparation of Compound 573

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 28a

A stirred solution of dry Int 21h (5.5 g, 13.91 mmol, 1.00 equiv) in dry THF (80 mL) was cooled to −30° C. and then added a solution of L1(t-BuO)₃AlH (5.3 g, 143.24 mmol, 1.10 equiv) in dry THF (10 mL) dropwise with stirring at the same temperature in 10 minutes. After the end of the addition, the resulting solution was stirred for an additional 3.0 hours at −30° C. The reaction was then quenched by the addition of aqueous saturated NH₄Cl (40 mL). The resulting solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×50 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to give a colorless syrup. The residue was applied onto a silica gel column and eluted with EtOAc/petroleum ether (1:20˜1:5) to give 4 Int 28a as white foam (4.0 g, 80%).

¹H-NMR-Int 28a: (300 MHz, CDCl₃, ppm): δ 8.10-8.14 (m, 2H), 8.00-8.04 (m, 2H), 7.64 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.48-7.56 (m, 3H), 7.37-7.42 (m, 2H), 5.76 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 0.6H), 5.50 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 0.4H), 5.25 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 0.4H), 5.14 (s, 0.6H), 4.49-4.69 (m, 3H), 3.50 (d, J=6.4 Hz, 0.4H), 3.29 (br, 0.6H), 1.61 (d, J=4.4 Hz, 3H).

Step B: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int 28b

A stirred suspension of dry Int 28a (1.0 g, 2.52 mmol, 1.00 equiv) and perchloromethane (500 mg, 1.30 equiv) in dry THF (25 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 30 min. The reaction mixture was cooled to −30° C. and then was treated with hexamethylphosphorous triamide (530 mg, 3.25 mmol, 1.30 equiv) in dry DCM (2.0 mL) dropwise with stirring at the same temperature in 10 min. This resulting solution was then cannulated into a well-stirred mixture of 6-chloro-7-deazapurine (350 mg, 2.28 mmol, 0.9 equiv) and potassium tert-butoxide THF solution (1.0 M, 4.5 mL, 1.80 equiv) at 0° C., and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction was then quenched by the addition of aqueous saturated NH₄Cl (40 mL), extracted with DCM (5×40 mL) and then washed with brine (50 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to give a brown syrup. The residue was applied onto a silica gel column and eluted with EtOAc/petroleum ether (1:5) to give Int 28b as a light-yellow solid (600 mg).

LC-MS—Int 28b: (ES, m/z): 533[M+1]⁺.

¹H-NMR—Int 28b: (400 MHz, CDCl₃, ppm): δ8.71 (s, 1H), 8.14 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 8.08 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.45-7.68 (m, 7H), 6.61 (d, J=3.6 Hz, 1H), 6.43 (s, 1H), 5.96 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.90 (dd, J=3.2, 12.4 Hz, 1H), 4.73-4.77 (m, 1H), 4.68 (dd, J=4.4, 12.4 Hz, 1H), 1.21 (s, 3H).

Step C: Synthesis of Compound 573

A solution of dry Int 28b (600 mg, 1.12 mmol) in n-BuOH (2.0 mL) was placed in a 20-mL sealed tube. The mixture was cooled to −40° C. and then of a solution of n-BuOH/liquid ammonia (5 mL/5 mL) was added carefully. The reactor was sealed and then heated to 80° C. overnight and then the resulting mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was applied onto a silica gel column and eluted with MeOHI/DCM (1/10) to provide an off-white crude solid. The crude solid (200 mg) was further purified by Prep-HPLC with the following conditions (1#-Pre-HPLC-001(SHIMADZU)): Column, 1#-PrepC-011 (Atlantis T319* 150 186003698 012139348113 02), mobile phase, Water and CH₃CN (5% CH₃CN up to 38% in 6.5 min, up to 100% in 1.5 min, down to 5% in 1.5 min); Detector, UV 254 & 220 nm. The appropriate fractions were collected and lyophilized to give compound 573 as a white solid (115 mg). LC-MS-573: (ES, m/z): 306 [M+1]⁺.

¹H-NMR-573: (400 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): δ8.11 (s, 1H), 7.57 (d, J=3.6 Hz, 1H), 6.65 (d, J=3.6 Hz, 1H), 6.15 (s, 1H), 4.40 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.02-4.05 (m, 2H), 3.85 (dd, J=3.4, 13.0 Hz, 1H), 1.01 (s, 1H).

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents.

Com- pound Starting MS No. Structure Material (M + H) 780

Int-21h 324

Example 29 Preparation of Compound 210

A solution of compound 4 (100 mg, 0.353 mmol) in THF (5 mL) was stirred in 35° C. oil bath and treated with N-methylimidazole (290 mg, 3.53 mmol) dropwise and the reaction was stirred for 5 minutes. A solution of Int-29a (339 mg, 1.06 mmol) in THF (2 mL) was added and the reaction was stirred over night. The reaction was quenched with 10% HCl solution (2 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×5 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (0->10% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂) to obtain the desired a mixture of two diasteromers. The two diastereomers were separated by super critical fluid chromatography to provide 211 (51 mg) and 210 (42 mg). ¹HNMR 210 (CD₃OD); 67.57 (1H, d, J=10.0 Hz), 7.26-7.30 (2H, m), 7.16-7.18 (2H, m), 7.09-7.13 (1H, m), 5.74 (1H, s), 5.52 (1H, d, J=10.0 Hz), 4.37-4.42 (1H, m), 4.24-4.29 (1H, m), 3.97-4.01 (1H, m), 3.86-3.93 (2H, m), 3.73-3.80 (2H, m), 1.77-1.84 (1H, m), 1.28 (3H, s), 1.26 (3H, d, J=4 Hz), 0.82 (6H, d, J=8 Hz).

Example 30 Preparation of Compound 563 and 564

Int-30a (61.5 mg; 0.212 mmol) was added dropwise to a stirred mixture of tetrazole (29.7 mg; 0.424 mmol) and compound 4 (40 mg; 0.141 mmol) in acetonitrile (3 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (80% aq. soln.; 0.068 ml; 0.565 mmol) was added and the mixture stirred overnight. The volatiles were removed in vacuo and the residue was subjected to silica gel column chromatography (99:1 to 97:3; CH₂Cl₂; MeOH) to provide compound 563 (3 mg; 5.5%), and 564 (2 mg, 3.7%). ¹H NMR:563 (CD₃OD): δ7.62 (1H, d, J=10.0 Hz), 6.06 (1H, s), 5.76 (1H, d, J=10.0 Hz), 4.70-4.81 (2H, m), 4.60-4.66 (1H, m), 4.54-4.56 (1H, m), 4.39-4.45 (1H, m), 1.47 (3H, s), 1.40 (6H, d, J=100 Hz).

LC-MS-563: (ES, m/z): 388.2

LC-MS 564: (ES, m/z): 388.2

Example 31 Preparation of Compound 587

A solution of dry compound 51 in DMF (100 mL) was treated dropwise with a solution of Int-31a (5.60 g, 16.4 mmol) in dry DMF (5.0 mL). The resulting mixture was cooled to −40° C. and then was followed by the addition of t-BuMgCl/DMF (1.7M, 29.0 mL) dropwise with stirring at the same temperature in 20 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred for 1.5 hours at −40° C., then quenched by the addition of saturated NH₄Cl (200 mL). The resulting solution was extracted with dichloromethane (3×150 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was applied onto a silica gel column and eluted with dichloromethane/methanol (40:1) to give colorless syrup. The crude (500 mg) was further purified by Prep-HPLC with the following conditions (1 #-Pre-HPLC-011(Waters)): Column, SunFire Prep C₁₈, 19*150 mm 5 um; mobile phase, Water and CH₃CN (10.0% CH₃CN up to 50.0% in 25 min, up to 100.0% in 1 min, down to 10.0% in 2 min); Detector, UV 254 & 220 nm. The appropriate fractions were collected and then lyophilized to give 170 mg (8.1%) of 587 as a white solid.

LC-MS-587: (ES, m/z): 643 [M+H]⁺, 665 [M+Na]⁺.

¹H-NMR-587: (300 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): δ7.99 (s, 1H), 5.86 (s, 1H), 4.92-5.04 (m, 2H), 4.62 (d, J=9.3 Hz, 1H), 4.36-4.42 (m, 2H), 4.15-4.21 (m, 1H), 4.06 (s, 3H), 3.81-3.94 (m, 2H), 1.30-1.37 (q, J=6.8 Hz, 6H), 1.18-1.25 (m, 15H). ³¹P-NMR-587:(121 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): δ14.12 (s, 1P)

The following compounds of the present invention were made using the methods described in the Example above and substituting the appropriate reactants and/or reagents.

Compound Starting No. Structure Material MS (M + H) 578

Compound 4 562 579

Compound 4 618.35 580

Compound 8 629 581

Compound 8 685 582

Compound 8 601 583

Compound 8 657.1 584

Compound 8 657 585

Compound 51 671.15 586

Compound 51 615.1 588

Compound 51 643.1 589

Compound 51 614.9 590

Compound 573 612.4

Example 32 Preparation of Compound 250

Step A: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-32b

A solution of Int-32a (30 g, 99 mmol) in MeOH (300 mL) was treated with NaOMe (5.4 g, 99 mmol) and the reaction was heated to 60° C. for 1 hour, and then cooled to room temperature. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo to provide Int-32b and carried on without purification.

Step B: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-32c

A solution of crude starting material Int-32b (29 g, 99 mmol) and DMAP (12 g, 99 mmol) in pyridine (248 mL) was treated with Ac₂O (112 mL, 1188 mmol) and the reaction was stirred at 70° C. for 2.5 hours. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo, diluted with CH₂Cl₂ (500 mL) and washed with 0.2 M KH₂PO₄ (200 mL), then saturated NaHCO₃ (200 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified via silica gel flash column chromatography (0 to 10% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂) to give the product Int-32c (44 g, 95 mmol, 95% over two steps). [M+H]=466.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.93 (s, 1H), 6.06 (d, 1H, J=4.5 Hz), 5.91 (dd, 1H, J=5.5, 4.7 Hz), 5.73-5.69 (m, 1H), 4.50-4.35 (m, 3H), 4.14 (s, 1H), 2.56 (s, 3H), 2.15 (s, 3H), 2.10 (s, 3H), 2.09 (s, 3H).

Step C: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-32d

A solution of Int-32c (44 g, 95 mmol) in MeOH (150 mL) and NH₄OH (150 mL, 28% aq.) was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours. After concentration in vacuo, warm iPrOH (500 mL) was added and the solution was cooled at −78° C. Significant precipitation occurs. The material was filtered over a medium-sintered glass funnel. The filtrate was concentrated and the iPrOH procedure was repeated. Combined solids collected and dried on high-vacuum pressure to give the crude product Int-32d that was used without purification.

Step D: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-32e

A solution of crude Int-32d (27 g, 80 mmol) in pyridine (568 mL) was treated with 1,3-dichloro-1,1,3,3-tetraisopropyldisiloxane (29 mL, 88 mmol) dropwise via an addition funnel. After 2 hours, water (1 mL) was added and the reaction was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (300 mL) and washed twice with water (200 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to give the crude product Int-32e that was used without purification. [M+H]=582.2

Step E: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-32f

A solution of Int-32e (45 g, 77 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (516 mL) was treated with Dess-Martin Periodinane (66 g, 155 mmol) portionwise and the reaction was allowed to stir for 4 hours at room temperature. The reaction was quenched with 10% Na₂S₂O₃ (200 mL) and allowed to stir for 30 minutes. The solution was transferred to a separatory funnel and saturated NaHCO₃ (200 mL) was added and the mixture shaken vigorously. The reaction mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2×300 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give the crude product Int-32f that was used without purification. [M+H]=580.2

Step F: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-32g

Methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (116 g, 324 mmol) was suspended in THF (500 mL) and KHMDS (650 mL, 0.5 M, 324 mmol) was added via an addition funnel. The solution was allowed to stir for 2 hours at room temperature, and then cooled to 0° C. A solution of Int-32f (47 g, 81 mmol) in THF (500 mL) was added dropwise and the reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 2 hours, then 16 hours at room temperature. The reaction was quenched with saturated NH₄Cl (300 mL) and extracted twice with EtOAc (300 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel flash column chromatography (0 to 30 to 80% EtOAc/hexanes) to give the pure product Int-32g (16 g, 34% over four steps). [M+H]=578.2; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 6.59-6.57 (m, 1H), 5.51-5.50 (m, 1H), 5.47-5.45 (m, 1H), 5.10-5.05 (m, 1H), 4.13 (s, 3H), 4.12-4.04 (m, 2H), 3.80 (dt, 1H, J=8.6, 3.0 Hz), 2.62 (s, 3H), 1.14-1.04 (m, 28H).

Step G: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-32h

The olefin Int-32g (10 g, 17 mmol) and the cobalt catalyst Int-ic (0.2 g, 0.3 mmol, synthesis: Gaspar, B.; Carreira, E. M. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 5758) were dissolved in TsN₃ (51g) and stirred until all the material was dissolved. Phenyl silane (2.8 mL, 23 mmol) was dissolved in EtOH (35 mL) and added dropwise to the reaction over 30 minutes. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo and loaded onto a plug of silica. TsN₃ was eluted with 0 to 5 to 10% EtOAc/hexanes, followed by 100% EtOAc to flush the plug. The 100% EtOAc fraction was concentrated in vacuo, then purified by silica gel flash column chromatography (0 to 20 to 70% EtOAc/hexanes) to give the product Int-32h (5.4 g, 50%). [M+H]=621.1; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.26 (s, 1H), 5.87 (s, 1H), 4.47 (d, 1H, J=9.2 Hz), 4.28 (d, 1H, J=13.7 Hz), 4.21 (dd, 1H, J=9.0, 2.5 Hz), 4.13 (s, 3H), 4.08 (dd, 1H, J=13.7, 2.7 Hz), 2.64 (s, 3H), 1.19-1.02 (m, 31H).

Step H: Synthesis of Intermediate Compound Int-32i

A solution of Int-32h (5.4 g, 8.7 mmol) in THF (87 mL) was treated with TBAF (17.4 mL, 1.0 M, 17.4 mmol). After 1 hour of stirring, the reaction was concentrated in vacuo and the residue dissolved in ammonia (90 mL, 7M in MeOH) and NH₄OH (2 mL, 28% aq.). The reaction was stirred for 16 hours at 100° C. The reaction was concentrated in vacuo and purified via flash column chromatography (0 to 15% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂) to give the product Int-32i (2.4 g, 82% over two steps). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ8.31 (s, 1H), 5.87 (s, 1H), 4.47 (d, 1H, J=9.2 Hz), 4.05 (s, 3H), 4.04-3.98 (m, 2H), 3.84 (dd, 1H, J=12.9, 2.9 Hz), 1.14 (s, 3H). (trace impurities from the TBAF reagent can be seen in the spectrum).

Step I: Synthesis of Compound 250

The starting nucleoside Int-32i (1.5 g, 4.5 mmol) was dissolved in THF (45 mL) and tBuMgCl (9.4 mL, 1 M in THF, 9.4 mmol) was added. After 15 minutes of stirring, the phosphorous reagent Int-32j (2.2 g, 4.9 mol, synthesis of similar reagents: Ross, B. S.; Reddy, P. G.; Zhang, H.-R.; Rachakonda, S.; Sofia, M. J. J. Org. Chem. 2011, 76, 8311) was added in one portion. After stirring for 16 hours at room temperature, the reaction was quenched with the addition of MeOH (1 mL), then concentrated in vacuo and purified via silica gel flash column chromatography (0 to 8% MeOH/CH₂Cl₂) to give the product 250 (1.3 g, 47%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ7.95 (s, 1H), 7.36-7.31 (m, 2H), 7.26-7.22 (m, 2H), 7.20-7.15 (m, 1H), 5.85 (s, 1H), 4.60 (d, 1H, J=9.0 Hz), 4.48 (dd, 2H, J=6.0, 3.7 Hz), 4.21-4.16 (m, 1H), 4.08-3.99 (m, 2H), 4.04 (s, 3H), 3.98-3.88 (m, 1H), 1.30 (dd, 3H, J=7.2, 1.0 Hz), 1.18 (s, 3H), 1.16 (t, 3H, J=7.0 Hz).

Example 33 Cell-Based HCV Replicon Assay

To measure cell-based anti-HCV activity of selected compounds of the present invention, replicon cells were seeded at 5000 cells/well in 96-well collagen I-coated Nunc plates in the presence of the test compound. Various concentrations of test compound, typically in 10 serial 2-fold dilutions, were added to the assay mixture, with the starting concentration ranging from 250 μM to 1 μM. The final concentration of dimethylsulfoxide was 0.5%, fetal bovine serum was 5%, in the assay media. Cells were harvested on day 3 by the addition of 1× cell lysis buffer (Ambion cat #8721). The replicon RNA level was measured using real time PCR (Taqman assay). The amplicon was located in 5B. The PCR primers were: 5B.2F, ATGGACAGGCGCCCTGA (SEQ ID. NO. 1); 5B.2R, TTGATGGGCAGCTTGGTTTC (SEQ ID. NO. 2); the probe sequence was FAM-labeled CACGCCATGCGCTGCGG (SEQ ID. NO. 3). GAPDH RNA was used as endogenous control and was amplified in the same reaction as NS5B (multiplex PCR) using primers and VIC-labeled probe recommended by the manufacturer (PE Applied Biosystem). The real-time RT-PCR reactions were run on ABI PRISM 7900HT Sequence Detection System using the following program: 48° C. for 30 minutes, 95° C. for 10 minutes, 40 cycles of 95° C. for 15 sec, 60° C. for 1 minute. The ACT values (CT_(5B)-CT_(GAPDH)) were plotted against the concentration of test compound and fitted to the sigmoid dose-response model using XLfit4 (MDL). EC₅₀ was defined as the concentration of inhibitor necessary to achieve ΔCT=1 over the projected baseline; EC₉₀ the concentration necessary to achieve ΔCT=3.2 over the baseline. Alternatively, to quantitate the absolute amount of replicon RNA, a standard curve was established by including serially diluted T7 transcripts of replicon RNA in the Taqman assay. All Taqman reagents were from PE Applied Biosystems. Such an assay procedure was described in detail in e.g. Malcolm et al., Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 50: 1013-1020 (2006).

HCV replicon assay data was calculated for selected compounds of the present invention using this method and is provided in the table below. Replicon EC₅₀ data for selected compounds of the present invention is provided in the tables below.

1b EC₅₀ Compound (μM) 1 26 2 75 3 1.2 4 >100 5 3.3 6 1.1 7 8.6 8 >100 9 0.8 10 0.9 11 1.1 12 1.3 13 6.4 14 32 15 1.4 16 1.0 17 >100 18 >100 19 >100 20 1.0 21 6.3 22 3.1 23 69 24 >100 25 13 26 0.6 27 0.1 28 2.3 29 0.5 30 3.3 31 4.9 33 >100 35 1.6 36 40 37 3.5 38 0.3 39 49 40 4.0 41 0.003 42 25 43 >100 44 >100 45 5.6 46 0.6 47 0.4 48 3.1 49 5.3 50 4.0 51 >100 52 1.2 53 0.7 54 0.3 55 1.1 57 0.4 58 0.5 59 10 60 2.0 61 0.8 62 0.8 63 0.4 64 0.4 65 56 68 9.5 69 2.2 70 0.4 71 0.6 72 0.8 73 0.7 74 NS5b IC₅₀ = 55 μM 75 NS5b IC₅₀ = 10 μM 76 NS5b IC₅₀ = 1.7 μM 77 0.6 78 1.1 79 0.2 80 2.6 81 >100 82 >100 83 63 84 51 85 >100 86 >100 87 3.1 88 0.4 89 >100 90 2.1 92 7.6 93 12 94 10 95 4.5 96 0.6 97 15

1b EC₅₀ Compound (μM) 101 0.1 102 11.0 103 10.3 104 10.9 105 17.1 106 49.9 107 18.6 108 24.1 137 >100 138 >100 139 3.1 140 1.4 141 0.2 142 0.5 143 0.6 144 0.7 145 0.2 146 26 147 5.6 151 5.1 152 0.5 153 19 154 0.7 155 2.2 156 1.5 157 49 158 9 159 6.2 160 6.8 161 1.7 163 11 164 1.0 165 6.2 166 0.8 167 1.2 168 1.5 169 3.5 170 1.5 171 0.5 172 0.4 173 0.6 174 0.5 175 0.4 176 0.3 177 12 178 3 181 3.8 182 12.0 183 3.0 184 5.7 185 2.9 186 2.0 187 22 188 5.6 189 22 190 5.6 191 25 192 19 193 61 194 35 195 0.02 196 39 197 0.4 198 0.6 199 3.2 200 0.4 201 12 202 10 203 20 204 1.3 205 15 208 23 209 1.8 210 3.3 211 0.8 213 7.9 214 12 215 3.1 216 1.3 217 2.1 218 4.6 219 22 220 5.3 221 0.8 222 0.01 223 8.8 224 3.3 225 2.8 226 26 227 3.1 228 1.3 229 0.03 230 14 231 7.6 232 >100 233 2.1 234 25 235 0.003 236 6.4 237 49 238 1.2 239 3.6 240 5.8 241 1.9 242 2.6 243 1.4 244 6.0 245 0.4 246 0.6 247 0.7 248 1.0 249 0.9 250 0.7 251 0.4 252 1.1 253 0.6 254 1.0 255 1.2 256 1.4 257 0.7 258 0.8 259 0.6 260 3.6 261 0.9 262 2.4 263 1.5 264 0.2 265 2.5 266 2.4 267 0.7 269 0.7 270 1.8 271 4.4 272 3.7 273 2.8 274 8.7 275 1.5 276 2.7 277 2.7 278 7.3 279 1.0 280 5.0 281 12 282 5.0 283 8.4 285 1.1 287 0.9 288 0.9 289 0.7 290 0.8 291 2.4 292 0.4 293 5.7 294 3.4 295 0.2 296 0.1 297 0.1 298 0.1 299 5.6 300 29 301 2.7 302 24.9 303 46.9 304 60 305 1.2 306 1.3 307 33 308 2.1 309 0.57 310 0.93 311 0.9 312 2.2 313 0.66 314 1.3 315 9.2 316 27.9 317 39 318 100 319 7 320 7 321 1.682 322 17 323 5.3 324 4.3 325 4.0 326 0.5 327 1.7 328 2.1 329 >100 330 12 331 10 332 20 333 1.3 334 13 335 >100 336 15 337 27 338 26 339 14 340 20 341 NA 343 61 344 35 345 >100 346 >100 347 0.7 348 5.0 349 2.0 350 1.0 351 2.6 352 1.1 353 0.9 355 1.3 357 100.0 358 2.3 359 3.3 360 4.8 361 11.2 362 2.6 363 0.2 364 6.4 365 1.1 366 0.4 367 3.3* 368 0.08 369 0.5 370 10 371 1.4 372 6 373 33 373 1.6 374 5.6 375 0.8 376 2.2 377 6.8 379 1.2 385 1.4 386 5.3 387 1.9 388 1.6 389 2.3 390 3.4 391 1.5 392 5.6 529 59 530 67 545 >100 558 1.0 561 3.1 562 0.4 563 >100 564 >100 565 >100 566 >100 567 >100 568 >100 572 100

Example 34 In Vitro Conversion of Prodrug to Nucleoside Triphosphate

The degree of conversion of a prodrug compound of the present invention to its corresponding nucleoside triphosphate is measured in vitro using the procedure described below.

A 2 mM stock solution of the prodrug test compound is prepared in 5% DMSO/95% MeOH to provide a final sample concentration of 10 μM. A 5 μL aliquot is removed from this stock solution and added to 1 mL of either a rat or human cryopreserved hepatocyte sample to provide a control sample at a concentration of 1 million cells/mL. This sample is assayed in triplicate and used as a test sample.

A 2 mM stock solution of Compound A is prepared in 5% DMSO/95% MeOH to give a final sample concentration of 10 μM.

A 5 μL aliquot is removed from this stock solution and added to 1 mL of either a rat or human cryopreserved hepatocyte sample to provide a control sample at a concentration of 1 million cells/mL. This sample is assayed in triplicate and used as a control standard.

Human and rat hepatocytes are removed from liquid nitrogen storage and thawed by submerging the hepatocyte tube into a pre-heated 37° C. waterbath and gently shaking the tube back & forth until thawed. The thawed hepatocytes are then gently poured into a container of Hepatocyte Basal Medium (50 mL, pre-warmed to 37° C.) and washed. The hepatocyte tube is then rinsed out with pre-warmed Hepatocyte Basal Medium and the washed hepatocytes and rinse are combined and centrifuged at 500 rpm for 4 minutes at room temperature. The supernatant is then discarded and the resulting hepatocyte pellet is resuspended with Hepatocyte Basal Medium (pre-warmed to 37° C.) and the final hepatocyte concentration is adjusted to 1 million cells/mL to provide the final hepatocyte suspension.

A 1 mL aliquot is removed from the 1 million cells/mL final hepatocyte suspension, analyzed in triplicate and placed into 20 mL scintillation vial without a cap. 2 mM of the prodrug test sample is then added into the hepatocyte suspension to provide a 10 μM final concentration in the 1 mL hepatocyte sample. The sample is then incubated at 37° C./5% CO₂ for 4 hours. A blank hepatocyte sample as well as the control standard are also incubated in this fashion.

The incubated hepatocyte suspension samples are transferred to a micro-centrifuge tube using a transfer pipette and centrifuged at 500 rpm for 4 minutes at room temperature. The supernatant is discarded and the resulting hepatocyte pellet was resuspended and the cells are extracted with 0.25 mL of a 4° C. solution of 70% methanol/30% (20 mM EDTA/20 mM EGTA) that has been adjusted to pH 8 using sodium hydroxide. The resulting extract solution is then stored in a refrigerator at 4° C. until ready for use, at which point the sample is first subjected to vortexing/sonication to ensure that all hepatocyte cells have burst. The sample is then centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4° C. and a 100 μL aliquot of the resulting supernatant is added into a bioanalytical plate (2 mL Square 96 well plate w/ 100 uL Tapered Reservoir), with the remaining supernatant immediately stored at −80° C. for re-assay if necessary. The blank control supernatant is transferred to a new tube for use as a control matrix in standard curves.

Alternatively, cryopreserved plateable hepatocytes are obtained from Celsis-In Vitro Technologies (Baltimore, Md.), and plated according to manufacturer's protocol at 0.7×10⁶ cells/mL in InVitro GRO CP Medium (1.75×10⁶ cells/well in 6-well plates) three hours prior to inhibitor treatment. An inhibitor in DMSO at the indicated concentration in InVitro GRO CP Medium is added to the hepatocytes at t=0. At indicated times up to 48 hours post dosing, cells are washed in ice-cold PBS, extracted with ice-cold 1 mL 70% methanol: 30% 20 mM EDTA/EGTA and centrifuged. The supernatant is stored at −80° C. until analysis. For intracellular NTP analysis, an NTP calibration curve is first generated by spiking a blank extraction buffer with known concentrations of the NTP standard. LC/ESI-MS analysis is performed on a QTRAP 5500 LC/MS/MS system (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) coupled to a Shimazu UFLC system, operated in the positive-ion mode. The HPLC system is consisted of solvent delivery module (LC20-AD XR), auto injector (SIL-20ACXR), and photodiode array detector (SPD-M20A PDA) (Shimadzu Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). All HPLC separations are performed at 40° C. The test samples are analyzed on a BioBasic AX column (5 μm particle size, 100×2.1 mm I.D., Thermo Scientific) using A (Acetonitrile:10 mM NH₄Ac=30:70, v:v, pH=6) and B (Acetonitrile:1 mM NH₄Ac=30:70, v:v, pH=10) as mobile phases at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The injection volume is 50 μL. The mobile phase gradient starts at 0% B, and linearly increases to 100% B over 6 min. The MS analysis of all NTPs is performed on the same QTRAP 5500 MS instrument in the multiple ion monitoring mode (MRM), with Turbo-Ion-Spray ionization. The collision energy is 40 eV for all the analytes and standards. The quadrupole mass analyzer is set to unit resolution.

Results are reported in pmol of triphosphate per μL of cells. To estimate μM intracellular concentration of nucleoside triphosphate, the following conversion is applied: 1×10⁶ hepatocytes is 3 μL in volume.

Data was obtained using this method for selected compounds of the present invention, tested at 10 μM, and is presented in the table below. This data indicates that the compounds are efficiently converted to its corresponding NTP in vitro resulting in significant coverage over its intrinsic potency (Ki). Data is also presented for a comparative compound, labeled as Compound B.

Human Hepatocyte NTP Compound (4 hour at 10 μM)/Ki

17x

20x

16x

244x 

~80x  

Example 35 Determination of In Vivo Conversion of Prodrug to Nucleoside Triphosphate

The degree of conversion of a prodrug compound of the present invention to its corresponding nucleoside triphosphate is measured in vivo using the procedure described below.

Liver samples are collected from either Wistar Hannover Rats or Beagle Dogs dosed with the prodrug via the freeze clamp procedure (animals anesthetized via isofluorane, the liver is clamped with modified clamps that are frozen in liquid nitrogen, and then the clamped liver piece is placed in liquid nitrogen to ensure frozen completely; repeat liver clamp procedure to get a second piece of liver sample; samples stored at −80° C.). Liver samples are homogenized using a Spex Sample Prep Freezer/Mill (Cryomill); settings for the cryomill operation are 1 Cycle, 2 minute pre-chill time, 2 minute run time, 1 minute cool time, and a rate of 15 cycles/second (cps). Control liver samples collected from rats dosed with vehicle are cryomilled in the same manner. During this process it is imperative that anything that will come into contact with the liver samples remain frozen on dry ice at all times, such as all Cryomill sample containers/lids and spatulas.

The cryomilled control liver sample is used to generate the standard curve. Weigh out an appropriate amount of cryomilled control liver sample into a conical tube, depending on how many standard curves are needed, place on wet ice and suspend with cold (approx. 0° C.) 70% Methanol/30% (20 mM EDTA/EGTA) that had been adjusted to pH 8 with sodium hydroxide at a ratio of 1:4 (liver:MeOH/EDTA-EGTA). The suspended liver homogenate is vortexed until a homogenous suspension is obtained. The standard curve ranges from 10 ng/mL to 50,000 ng/mL of NTP standard, as well as a QC sample at 10,000 ng/mL. A 500 μL aliquot of suspended control liver homogenate per each point on the standard curve and each QC is removed and placed into a 1.5 mL centrifuge tube, and 125 μL of each corresponding standard curve or QC standard solution is added to each individual control aliquot and re-vortexed. Liver sample aliquots are centrifuged at 4° C., 3645×g, for 10 minutes, and 450 μL of the supernatant is aliquoted into a 2 mL Square 96 well bioanalytical plate. Single and double blank samples are also generated from the suspended control liver homogenate using the procedure above, substituting the 125 uL of standard solution with 125 uL of water.

Approximately 1-2 grams of the cryomilled liver sample is weighed out into a 50 mL conical tube and placed on wet ice and suspended with cold 70% Methanol/30% (20 mM EDTA/EGTA) that had been adjusted to pH 8 with sodium hydroxide at a ratio of 1:4 (liver:MeOH/EDTA-EGTA); the remaining cryomilled liver sample is stored at −80° C. for possible re-assay if needed. The suspended liver homogenate is vortexed until a homogenous suspension is obtained. A 500 μL aliquot of each unknown liver sample is removed and placed into a 1.5 mL centrifuge tube, and 125 μL of water is added to each aliquot and re-vortexed. Standard curve/QC liver sample aliquots are centrifuged at 4° C., 3645×g, for 10 minutes, and 450 μL of the supernatant is aliquoted into a 2 mL square 96 well bioanalytical plate, and an appropriate internal standard is added to all sample wells, standard curve/QC wells, and the single blank well. The sample plate is stored at −80° C. until analysis and results are reported in μM of NTP measured.

Data was obtained using this method for selected compounds of the present invention, tested at 10 μM, and is presented in the table below. This data indicates that the compounds are efficiently converted to their corresponding NTPs in vivo, resulting in significant coverage over their intrinsic potency (Ki). Data is also presented for comparative compounds, labeled as Compound B and Compound C.

In Vivo Rat NTP Compound (50 mpk, 4 h)/Ki

23x

 1x

13x

323x 

10x

1400x 

Example 36 Inhibition of HCV NS5B Polymerase by Nucleoside Triphosphate Analogs

To measure inhibition of the enzymatic activity of the HCV NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase by the nucleoside triphosphate compounds of the present invention, a radiolabeled nucleotide incorporation assay was used. This assay is a modified version of the assay described in International Publication No. WO2002/057287. Briefly, 50 μL reactions containing 20 mM HEPES (pH 7.3); 7.5 mM DTT; 20 units/ml RNasIN; 1 μM each of ATP, GTP, UTP and CTP; 20 μCi/mL [³³P]-CTP; 10 mM MgCl; 60 mM NaCl; 100 μg/ml BSA; 0.021 μM DCoH heteropolymer RNA template; and 5 nM NS5B (1b-BKΔ55) enzyme are incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. The assay is then terminated by the addition of 500 mM EDTA (50 μL). The reaction mixture is transferred to a Millipore DE81 filter plate and the incorporation of labeled CTP is determined using Packard TopCount. Compound IC₅₀ values can then be calculated from experiments with 10 serial 3-fold dilutions of the inhibitor in duplicate. The intrinsic potency (Ki) of an NTP inhibitor is derived from its NS5B IC₅₀ using the Cheng-Prusoff equation for a competitive inhibitor, as described in Cheng et al., Biochem Pharmacol 22:3099-3108 (1973): Ki=IC₅₀/(1+[S]/K_(m)), where [S]=1 μM, and K_(m) is the concentration of cognate NTP yielding half-maximal enzyme activity in the assay absent exogenous inhibitors.

Data was obtained using this method for the NTP analogs of selected compounds below of the present invention, and is set forth below. This data indicates that the nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) of the compounds are potent and effective inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase. Data is also presented for comparative compounds, labeled as Compound B and Compound C.

NTP Ki Compound (μM)

0.03

9

0.3

1.5

0.03

Example 37 Replicon Activity and Cytotoxicity Assays

To measure cell-based anti-HCV activity of the compounds of the present invention, replicon cells (1b-Con1) are seeded at 5000 cells/well in 96-well plates one day prior to treatment with a compound of the invention. Various concentrations of a test compound of the invention in DMSO are then added to the replicon cells, with the final concentration of DMSO at 0.5% and fetal bovine serum at 10% in the assay media. Cells are harvested three days post-dosing and the replicon RNA level is determined using real-time RT-PCR (Taqman assay) with GAPDH RNA as endogenous control. EC₅₀ values are calculated from experiments with 10 serial twofold dilutions of the inhibitor in triplicate. To measure cytotoxicity in replicon cells of an inhibitor, an MTS assay is performed according to the manufacturer's protocol for CellTiter 96 Aqueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay (Promega, Cat #G3580) three days post dosing on cells treated identically as in replicon activity assays. CC₅₀ is the concentration of inhibitor that yields 50% inhibition compared to vehicle-treated cells. Cytotoxicity in other types of cells can be measured using the same MTS protocol.

Data was obtained using this method for selected compounds of the present invention, and is set forth below. This data indicates that the compound possesses significant cytotoxicity windows over replicon activity.

Replicon (1b) EC₅₀ Cytotoxicity Compound (μM) (μM)

8.3 >100

3.1 >100

0.4 >100

1.0 >100

1.5 >100

1.4 >100

35 >100

1.3 >100

2.1 83

0.9 25

1.2

1.2 >100

7.6 42

2.8 >100

0.8 55

Example 38 Mitochondrial Toxicity Assay

Mitochondrial toxicity in replicon cells of an inhibitor can be evaluated by its effect on the mitochondrial genome copy number relative to a nuclear gene control. Replicon cells are seeded at 60,000 cells/well in 6-well plates one day prior to inhibitor treatment. Various concentrations of an inhibitor in culture medium are added on the first day of treatment and dosing media are refreshed every three days thereafter. Cells are harvested at the indicated days post dosing; the total DNA is isolated using DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen, Cat #69504) and quantitated by standard spectrophotometric methods. Two alternative sets of mitochondrial-specific DNA primer can be used: 1) 5′-CACCCAAGAACAGGGTTTGT-3′ (SEQ. ID. NO. 4) (F3212, forward), 5′-TGGCCATGGGTATGTTGTTAA-3′ (SEQ. ID. NO. 5) (R3319, reverse), 6-FAM-5′-TTACCGGGCTCTGCCATCT-3′-TAMRA (SEQ. ID. NO. 6) (probe) (see Bai et al., Ann NY Acad Sci 1011:304-309 (2004)); or 2) 5′-TGCCCGCCATCATCCTA-3′ (SEQ. ID. NO. 7) (COX II, forward), 5′-CGTCTGTTATGTAAAGGATGCGT-3′ (SEQ. ID. NO. 8) (COX II, reverse), 6-FAM-5′-TCCTCATCGCCCTCCCATCCC-3′-TAMRA (SEQ. ID. NO. 9) (probe) (see Stuyver et al., Antimicrob Agents Chemother 46:3854-3860 (2002)). Primers are used at 500 nM and probes at 200 nM in the Taqman quantitative PCR assay. The nuclear gene control quantitation is run in parallel for 18S DNA using ABI PDAR part #4310875 (20×). The ΔCT value (CT difference between mt DNA and 18S DNA) from inhibitor-treated cells is compared to that of vehicle-treated cells. Mitochondrial toxicity in other types of cells can be measured using the same protocol.

Uses of the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives

The 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are useful in human and veterinary medicine for treating or preventing a viral infection in a patient. In one embodiment, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives can be inhibitors of viral replication. In another embodiment, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives can be inhibitors of HCV replication. Accordingly, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are useful for treating viral infections, such as HCV. In accordance with the invention, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives can be administered to a patient in need of treatment or prevention of a viral infection.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention provides methods for treating a viral infection in a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Treatment or Prevention of a Flaviviridae Virus

The 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives can be useful for treating or preventing a viral infection caused by the Flaviviridae family of viruses.

Examples of Flaviviridae infections that can be treated or prevented using the present methods include but are not limited to, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, Kyasanur Forest disease, Murray Valley encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, Tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile encephalitis, yellow fever and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection.

In one embodiment, the Flaviviridae infection being treated is hepatitis C virus infection.

Treatment or Prevention of HCV Infection

The 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are useful in the inhibition of HCV, the treatment of HCV infection and/or reduction of the likelihood or severity of symptoms of HCV infection and the inhibition of HCV viral replication and/or HCV viral production in a cell-based system. For example, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are useful in treating infection by HCV after suspected past exposure to HCV by such means as blood transfusion, exchange of body fluids, bites, accidental needle stick, or exposure to patient blood during surgery or other medical procedures.

In one embodiment, the hepatitis C infection is acute hepatitis C. In another embodiment, the hepatitis C infection is chronic hepatitis C.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention provides methods for treating HCV infection in a patient, the methods comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In a specific embodiment, the amount administered is effective to treat or prevent infection by HCV in the patient. In another specific embodiment, the amount administered is effective to inhibit HCV viral replication and/or viral production in the patient.

The 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are also useful in the preparation and execution of screening assays for antiviral compounds. For example the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are useful for identifying resistant HCV replicon cell lines harboring mutations within NS5B, which are excellent screening tools for more powerful antiviral compounds. Furthermore, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are useful in establishing or determining the binding site of other antivirals to the HCV NS5B polymerase.

The compositions and combinations of the present invention can be useful for treating a patient suffering from infection related to any HCV genotype. HCV types and subtypes may differ in their antigenicity, level of viremia, severity of disease produced, and response to interferon therapy as described in Holland et al., Pathology, 30 (2):192-195 (1998). The nomenclature set forth in Simmonds et al., J Gen Virol, 74 (Pt11):2391-2399 (1993) is widely used and classifies isolates into six major genotypes, 1 through 6, with two or more related subtypes, e.g., 1a and 1b. Additional genotypes 7-10 and 11 have been proposed, however the phylogenetic basis on which this classification is based has been questioned, and thus types 7, 8, 9 and 11 isolates have been reassigned as type 6, and type 10 isolates as type 3 (see Lamballerie et al., J Gen Virol, 78 (Pt1):45-51 (1997)). The major genotypes have been defined as having sequence similarities of between 55 and 72% (mean 64.5%), and subtypes within types as having 75%-86% similarity (mean 80%) when sequenced in the NS-5 region (see Simmonds et al., J Gen Virol, 75 (Pt 5):1053-1061 (1994)).

Combination Therapy

In another embodiment, the present methods for treating or preventing HCV infection can further comprise the administration of one or more additional therapeutic agents which are not 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives.

In one embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an antiviral agent.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an immunomodulatory agent, such as an immunosuppressive agent.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention provides methods for treating a viral infection in a patient, the method comprising administering to the patient: (i) at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative (which may include two or more different 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and (ii) at least one additional therapeutic agent that is other than a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative, wherein the amounts administered are together effective to treat or prevent a viral infection.

When administering a combination therapy of the invention to a patient, therapeutic agents in the combination, or a pharmaceutical composition or compositions comprising therapeutic agents, may be administered in any order such as, for example, sequentially, concurrently, together, simultaneously and the like. The amounts of the various actives in such combination therapy may be different amounts (different dosage amounts) or same amounts (same dosage amounts). Thus, for non-limiting illustration purposes, a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative and an additional therapeutic agent may be present in fixed amounts (dosage amounts) in a single dosage unit (e.g., a capsule, a tablet and the like).

In one embodiment, the at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative is administered during a time when the additional therapeutic agent(s) exert their prophylactic or therapeutic effect, or vice versa.

In another embodiment, the at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative and the additional therapeutic agent(s) are administered in doses commonly employed when such agents are used as monotherapy for treating a viral infection.

In another embodiment, the at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative and the additional therapeutic agent(s) are administered in doses lower than the doses commonly employed when such agents are used as monotherapy for treating a viral infection.

In still another embodiment, the at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative and the additional therapeutic agent(s) act synergistically and are administered in doses lower than the doses commonly employed when such agents are used as monotherapy for treating a viral infection.

In one embodiment, the at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative and the additional therapeutic agent(s) are present in the same composition. In one embodiment, this composition is suitable for oral administration. In another embodiment, this composition is suitable for intravenous administration. In another embodiment, this composition is suitable for subcutaneous administration. In still another embodiment, this composition is suitable for parenteral administration.

Viral infections and virus-related disorders that can be treated or prevented using the combination therapy methods of the present invention include, but are not limited to, those listed above.

In one embodiment, the viral infection is HCV infection.

The at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative and the additional therapeutic agent(s) can act additively or synergistically. A synergistic combination may allow the use of lower dosages of one or more agents and/or less frequent administration of one or more agents of a combination therapy. A lower dosage or less frequent administration of one or more agents may lower toxicity of therapy without reducing the efficacy of therapy.

In one embodiment, the administration of at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative and the additional therapeutic agent(s) may inhibit the resistance of a viral infection to these agents.

Non-limiting examples of additional therapeutic agents useful in the present compositions and methods include an interferon, an immunomodulator, a viral replication inhibitor, an antisense agent, a therapeutic vaccine, a viral polymerase inhibitor, a nucleoside inhibitor, a viral protease inhibitor, a viral helicase inhibitor, a virion production inhibitor, a viral entry inhibitor, a viral assembly inhibitor, an antibody therapy (monoclonal or polyclonal), and any agent useful for treating an RNA-dependent polymerase-related disorder.

In one embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is a viral protease inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is a viral replication inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV NS3 protease inhibitor.

In still another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is a nucleoside inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an interferon.

In yet another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV replicase inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an antisense agent.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is a therapeutic vaccine.

In a further embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is a virion production inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an antibody therapy.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV NS2 inhibitor.

In still another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV NS4A inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV NS4B inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV NS5A inhibitor

In yet another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV NS3 helicase inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV IRES inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV p7 inhibitor.

In a further embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV entry inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is an HCV assembly inhibitor.

In one embodiment, the additional therapeutic agents comprise a viral protease inhibitor and a viral polymerase inhibitor.

In still another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agents comprise a viral protease inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent.

In yet another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agents comprise a polymerase inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agents comprise a viral protease inhibitor and a nucleoside.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agents comprise an immunomodulatory agent and a nucleoside.

In one embodiment, the additional therapeutic agents comprise an HCV protease inhibitor and an HCV polymerase inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agents comprise a nucleoside and an HCV NS5A inhibitor.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agents comprise a viral protease inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent and a nucleoside.

In a further embodiment, the additional therapeutic agents comprise a viral protease inhibitor, a viral polymerase inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent.

In another embodiment, the additional therapeutic agent is ribavirin.

HCV polymerase inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, VP-19744 (Wyeth/ViroPharma), PSI-7851 (Pharmasset), RG7128 (Roche/Pharmasset), PSI-7977 (Pharmasset), PSI-938 (Pharmasset), PSI-879 (Pharmasset), PSI-661 (Pharmasset), PF-868554/filibuvir (Pfizer), VCH-759/VX-759 (ViroChem Pharma/Vertex), HCV-371 (Wyeth/VirroPharma), HCV-796 (Wyeth/ViroPharma), IDX-184 (Idenix), IDX-375 (Idenix), NM-283 (Idenix/Novartis), GL-60667 (Genelabs), JTK-109 (Japan Tobacco), PSI-6130 (Pharmasset), R1479 (Roche), R-1626 (Roche), R-7128 (Roche), MK-0608 (Isis/Merck), INX-8014 (Inhibitex), INX-8018 (Inhibitex), INX-189 (Inhibitex), GS 9190 (Gilead), A-848837 (Abbott), ABT-333 (Abbott), ABT-072 (Abbott), A-837093 (Abbott), BI-207127 (Boehringer-Ingelheim), BILB-1941 (Boehringer-Ingelheim), MK-3281 (Merck), VCH-222/VX-222 (ViroChem/Vertex), VCH-916 (ViroChem), VCH-716(ViroChem), GSK-71185 (Glaxo SmithKline), ANA598 (Anadys), GSK-625433 (Glaxo SmithKline), XTL-2125 (XTL Biopharmaceuticals), and those disclosed in Ni et al., Current Opinion in Drug Discovery and Development, 7 (4):446 (2004); Tan et al., Nature Reviews, 1:867 (2002); and Beaulieu et al., Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 5:838 (2004).

Other HCV polymerase inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in International Publication Nos. WO 08/082,484, WO 08/082,488, WO 08/083,351, WO 08/136,815, WO 09/032,116, WO 09/032,123, WO 09/032,124 and WO 09/032,125; and the following compounds:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Interferons useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, interferon alfa-2a, interferon alfa-2b, interferon alfacon-1 and PEG-interferon alpha conjugates. “PEG-interferon alpha conjugates” are interferon alpha molecules covalently attached to a PEG molecule. Illustrative PEG-interferon alpha conjugates include interferon alpha-2a (Roferon™, Hoffman La-Roche, Nutley, N.J.) in the form of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (e.g., as sold under the trade name Pegasys™), interferon alpha-2b (Intron™, from Schering-Plough Corporation) in the form of pegylated interferon alpha-2b (e.g., as sold under the trade name PEG-Intron™ from Schering-Plough Corporation), interferon alpha-2b-XL (e.g., as sold under the trade name PEG-Intron™), interferon alpha-2c (Berofor Alpha™ Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany), PEG-interferon lambda (Bristol-Myers Squibb and ZymoGenetics), interferon alfa-2b alpha fusion polypeptides, interferon fused with the human blood protein albumin (Albuferon™, Human Genome Sciences), Omega Interferon (Intarcia), Locteron controlled release interferon (Biolex/OctoPlus), Biomed-510 (omega interferon), Peg-IL-29 (ZymoGenetics), Locteron CR (Octoplus), R-7025 (Roche), IFN-α-2b-XL (Flamel Technologies), belerofon (Nautilus) and consensus interferon as defined by determination of a consensus sequence of naturally occurring interferon alphas (Infergen™, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, Calif.).

Antibody therapy agents useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, antibodies specific to IL-10 (such as those disclosed in US Patent Publication No. US2005/0101770, humanized 12G8, a humanized monoclonal antibody against human IL-10, plasmids containing the nucleic acids encoding the humanized 12G8 light and heavy chains were deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) as deposit numbers PTA-5923 and PTA-5922, respectively), and the like).

Examples of viral protease inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, an HCV protease inhibitor.

HCV protease inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,494,988, 7,485,625, 7,449,447, 7,442,695, 7,425,576, 7,342,041, 7,253,160, 7,244,721, 7,205,330, 7,192,957, 7,186,747, 7,173,057, 7,169,760, 7,012,066, 6,914,122, 6,911,428, 6,894,072, 6,846,802, 6,838,475, 6,800,434, 6,767,991, 5,017,380, 4,933,443, 4,812,561 and 4,634,697; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. US20020068702, US20020160962, US20050119168, US20050176648, US20050209164, US20050249702 and US20070042968; and International Publication Nos. WO 03/006490, WO 03/087092, WO 04/092161 and WO 08/124,148.

Additional HCV protease inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, VX-950 (Telaprevir, Vertex), VX-500 (Vertex), VX-813 (Vertex), VBY-376 (Virobay), BI-201335 (Boehringer Ingelheim), TMC-435 (Medivir/Tibotec), ABT-450 (Abbott/Enanta), TMC-435350 (Medivir), RG7227 (Danoprevir, InterMune/Roche), EA-058 (Abbott/Enanta), EA-063 (Abbott/Enanta), GS-9256 (Gilead), IDX-320 (Idenix), ACH-1625 (Achillion), ACH-2684 (Achillion), GS-9132 (Gilead/Achillion), ACH-1095 (Gilead/Achillon), IDX-136 (Idenix), IDX-316 (Idenix), ITMN-8356 (InterMune), ITMN-8347 (InterMune), ITMN-8096 (InterMune), ITMN-7587 (InterMune), BMS-650032 (Bristol-Myers Squibb), VX-985 (Vertex) and PHX1766 (Phenomix).

Further examples of HCV protease inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in Landro et al., Biochemistry, 36 (31):9340-9348 (1997); Ingallinella et al., Biochemistry, 37 (25):8906-8914 (1998); Llinàs-Brunet et al., Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 8 (13): 1713-1718 (1998); Martin et al., Biochemistry, 37 (33):11459-11468 (1998); Dimasi et al., J Virol, 71 (10):7461-7469 (1997); Martin et al., Protein Eng, 10 (5):607-614 (1997); Elzouki et al., J Hepat, 27 (1):42-48 (1997); BioWorld Today, 9 (217:4 (Nov. 10, 1998); U.S. Patent Publication Nos. US2005/0249702 and US 2007/0274951; and International Publication Nos. WO 98/14181, WO 98/17679, WO 98/17679, WO 98/22496 and WO 99/07734 and WO 05/087731.

Further examples of HCV protease inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, the following compounds:

pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Viral replication inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, HCV replicase inhibitors, IRES inhibitors, NS4A inhibitors, NS3 helicase inhibitors, NS5A inhibitors, NS5B inhibitors, ribavirin, AZD-2836 (Astra Zeneca), viramidine, A-831 (Arrow Therapeutics), EDP-239 (Enanta), ACH-2928 (Achillion), GS-5885 (Gilead); an antisense agent or a therapeutic vaccine.

Viral entry inhibitors useful as second additional therapeutic agents in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, PRO-206 (Progenics), REP-9C (REPICor), SP-30 (Samaritan Pharmaceuticals) and ITX-5061 (iTherx).

HCV NS4A inhibitors useful in the useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,476,686 and 7,273,885; U.S. Patent Publication No. US20090022688; and International Publication Nos. WO 2006/019831 and WO 2006/019832. Additional HCV NS4A inhibitors useful as second additional therapeutic agents in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, AZD2836 (Astra Zeneca), ACH-1095 (Achillion) and ACH-806 (Achillion).

HCV NS5A inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, ACH-2928 (Achilon), A-832 (Arrow Therapeutics), AZD-7295 (Astra Zeneca/Arrow), GS-5885 (Gilead), PPI-461 (Presidio), PPI-1301 (Presidio), BMS-824383 (Bristol-Myers Squibb) and BMS-790052 (Bristol-Myers Squibb). Additional HCV NS4A inhibitors useful as second additional therapeutic agents in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to those disclosed in International Publication No. WO 2010/111483 and the following compounds:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

HCV replicase inhibitors useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. US20090081636.

Therapeutic vaccines useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, IC41 (Intercell Novartis), CSL123 (Chiron/CSL), GI 5005 (Globeimmune), TG-4040 (Transgene), GNI-103 (GENimmune), Hepavaxx C (ViRex Medical), ChronVac-C (Inovio/Tripep), PeviPROTM (Pevion Biotect), HCV/MF59 (Chiron/Novartis), MBL-HCV1 (MassBiologics), GI-5005 (GlobeImmune), CT-011 (CureTech/Teva) and Civacir (NABI).

Examples of further additional therapeutic agents useful in the present compositions and methods include, but are not limited to, Ritonavir (Abbott), TT033 (Benitec/Tacere Bio/Pfizer), Sirna-034 (Sirna Therapeutics), GNI-104 (GENimmune), GI-5005 (GlobeImmune), IDX-102 (Idenix), Levovirin™ (ICN Pharmaceuticals, Costa Mesa, Calif.); Humax (Genmab), ITX-2155 (Ithrex/Novartis), PRO 206 (Progenics), HepaCide-I (NanoVirocides), MX3235 (Migenix), SCY-635 (Scynexis); KPE02003002 (Kemin Pharma), Lenocta (VioQuest Pharmaceuticals), IET—Interferon Enhancing Therapy (Transition Therapeutics), Zadaxin (SciClone Pharma), VP 50406™ (Viropharma, Incorporated, Exton, Pa.); Taribavirin (Valeant Pharmaceuticals); Nitazoxanide (Romark); Debio 025 (Debiopharm); GS-9450 (Gilead); PF-4878691 (Pfizer); ANA773 (Anadys); SCV-07 (SciClone Pharmaceuticals); NIM-881 (Novartis); ISIS 14803™ (ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, Calif.); Heptazyme™ (Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Boulder, Colo.); Thymosin™ (SciClone Pharmaceuticals, San Mateo, Calif.); Maxamine™ (Maxim Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, Calif.); NKB-122 (JenKen Bioscience Inc., North Carolina); Alinia (Romark Laboratories), INFORM-1 (a combination of R7128 and ITMN-191); and mycophenolate mofetil (Hoffman-LaRoche, Nutley, N.J.).

The doses and dosage regimen of the other agents used in the combination therapies of the present invention for the treatment or prevention of HCV infection can be determined by the attending clinician, taking into consideration the approved doses and dosage regimen in the package insert; the age, sex and general health of the patient; and the type and severity of the viral infection or related disease or disorder. When administered in combination, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative(s) and the other agent(s) can be administered simultaneously (i.e., in the same composition or in separate compositions one right after the other) or sequentially. This particularly useful when the components of the combination are given on different dosing schedules, e.g., one component is administered once daily and another component is administered every six hours, or when the preferred pharmaceutical compositions are different, e.g., one is a tablet and one is a capsule. A kit comprising the separate dosage forms is therefore advantageous.

Generally, a total daily dosage of the at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative(s) alone, or when administered as combination therapy, can range from about 1 to about 2500 mg per day, although variations will necessarily occur depending on the target of therapy, the patient and the route of administration. In one embodiment, the dosage is from about 10 to about 1000 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses. In another embodiment, the dosage is from about 1 to about 500 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses. In still another embodiment, the dosage is from about 1 to about 100 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses. In yet another embodiment, the dosage is from about 1 to about 50 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses. In another embodiment, the dosage is from about 500 to about 1500 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses. In still another embodiment, the dosage is from about 500 to about 1000 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses. In yet another embodiment, the dosage is from about 100 to about 500 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses.

In one embodiment, when the additional therapeutic agent is INTRON-A interferon alpha 2b (commercially available from Schering-Plough Corp.), this agent is administered by subcutaneous injection at 3MIU (12 mcg)/0.5 mL/TIW for 24 weeks or 48 weeks for first time treatment.

In another embodiment, when the additional therapeutic agent is PEG-INTRON interferon alpha 2b pegylated (commercially available from Schering-Plough Corp.), this agent is administered by subcutaneous injection at 1.5 mcg/kg/week, within a range of 40 to 150 mcg/week, for at least 24 weeks.

In another embodiment, when the additional therapeutic agent is ROFERON A interferon alpha 2a (commercially available from Hoffmann-La Roche), this agent is administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection at 3MIU (11.1 mcg/mL)/TIW for at least 48 to 52 weeks, or alternatively 6MIU/TIW for 12 weeks followed by 3MIU/TIW for 36 weeks.

In still another embodiment, when the additional therapeutic agent is PEGASUS interferon alpha 2a pegylated (commercially available from Hoffmann-La Roche), this agent is administered by subcutaneous injection at 180 mcg/1 mL or 180 mcg/0.5 mL, once a week for at least 24 weeks.

In yet another embodiment, when the additional therapeutic agent is INFERGEN interferon alphacon-1 (commercially available from Amgen), this agent is administered by subcutaneous injection at 9 mcg/TIW is 24 weeks for first time treatment and up to 15 mcg/TIW for 24 weeks for non-responsive or relapse treatment.

In a further embodiment, when the additional therapeutic agent is Ribavirin (commercially available as REBETOL ribavirin from Schering-Plough or COPEGUS ribavirin from Hoffmann-La Roche), this agent is administered at a daily dosage of from about 600 to about 1400 mg/day for at least 24 weeks.

In one embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with one or more additional therapeutic agents selected from: an interferon, an immunomodulator, a viral replication inhibitor, an antisense agent, a therapeutic vaccine, a viral polymerase inhibitor, a nucleoside inhibitor, a viral protease inhibitor, a viral helicase inhibitor, a viral polymerase inhibitor a virion production inhibitor, a viral entry inhibitor, a viral assembly inhibitor, an antibody therapy (monoclonal or polyclonal), and any agent useful for treating an RNA-dependent polymerase-related disorder.

In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with one or more additional therapeutic agents selected from an HCV protease inhibitor, an HCV polymerase inhibitor, an HCV replication inhibitor, a nucleoside, an interferon, a pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The combination therapies can include any combination of these additional therapeutic agents.

In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with one additional therapeutic agent selected from an HCV protease inhibitor, an interferon, a pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

In still another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with two additional therapeutic agents selected from an HCV protease inhibitor, an HCV replication inhibitor, a nucleoside, an interferon, a pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with an HCV protease inhibitor and ribavirin. In another specific embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with a pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with three additional therapeutic agents selected from an HCV protease inhibitor, an HCV replication inhibitor, a nucleoside, an interferon, a pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

In one embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with one or more additional therapeutic agents selected from an HCV polymerase inhibitor, a viral protease inhibitor, an interferon, and a viral replication inhibitor. In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with one or more additional therapeutic agents selected from an HCV polymerase inhibitor, a viral protease inhibitor, an interferon, and a viral replication inhibitor. In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with one or more additional therapeutic agents selected from an HCV polymerase inhibitor, an HCV NS5A inhibitor, a viral protease inhibitor, an interferon, and ribavirin.

In one embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with one additional therapeutic agent selected from an HCV polymerase inhibitor, a viral protease inhibitor, an interferon, and a viral replication inhibitor. In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with ribavirin.

In one embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with two additional therapeutic agents selected from an HCV polymerase inhibitor, a viral protease inhibitor, an interferon, and a viral replication inhibitor.

In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with ribavirin, interferon and another therapeutic agent.

In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with ribavirin, interferon and another therapeutic agent, wherein the additional therapeutic agent is selected from an HCV polymerase inhibitor, a viral protease inhibitor, and a viral replication inhibitor.

In still another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with ribavirin, interferon and a viral protease inhibitor.

In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with ribavirin, interferon and an HCV protease inhibitor.

In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with ribavirin, interferon and boceprevir or telaprevir.

In a further embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with ribavirin, interferon and an HCV polymerase inhibitor.

In another embodiment, one or more compounds of the present invention are administered with pegylated-interferon alpha and ribavirin.

Compositions and Administration

Due to their activity, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are useful in veterinary and human medicine. As described above, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are useful for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient in need thereof.

When administered to a patient, the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives can be administered as a component of a composition that comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or vehicle. The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In the pharmaceutical compositions and methods of the present invention, the active ingredients will typically be administered in admixture with suitable carrier materials suitably selected with respect to the intended form of administration, i.e., oral tablets, capsules (either solid-filled, semi-solid filled or liquid filled), powders for constitution, oral gels, elixirs, dispersible granules, syrups, suspensions, and the like, and consistent with conventional pharmaceutical practices. For example, for oral administration in the form of tablets or capsules, the active drug component may be combined with any oral non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier, such as lactose, starch, sucrose, cellulose, magnesium stearate, dicalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, talc, mannitol, ethyl alcohol (liquid forms) and the like. Solid form preparations include powders, tablets, dispersible granules, capsules, cachets and suppositories. Powders and tablets may be comprised of from about 0.5 to about 95 percent inventive composition. Tablets, powders, cachets and capsules can be used as solid dosage forms suitable for oral administration.

Moreover, when desired or needed, suitable binders, lubricants, disintegrating agents and coloring agents may also be incorporated in the mixture. Suitable binders include starch, gelatin, natural sugars, corn sweeteners, natural and synthetic gums such as acacia, sodium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol and waxes. Among the lubricants there may be mentioned for use in these dosage forms, boric acid, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, sodium chloride, and the like. Disintegrants include starch, methylcellulose, guar gum, and the like. Sweetening and flavoring agents and preservatives may also be included where appropriate.

Liquid form preparations include solutions, suspensions and emulsions and may include water or water-propylene glycol solutions for parenteral injection.

Liquid form preparations may also include solutions for intranasal administration.

Also included are solid form preparations which are intended to be converted, shortly before use, to liquid form preparations for either oral or parenteral administration. Such liquid forms include solutions, suspensions and emulsions.

For preparing suppositories, a low melting wax such as a mixture of fatty acid glycerides or cocoa butter is first melted, and the active ingredient is dispersed homogeneously therein as by stirring. The molten homogeneous mixture is then poured into convenient sized molds, allowed to cool and thereby solidify.

Additionally, the compositions of the present invention may be formulated in sustained release form to provide the rate controlled release of any one or more of the components or active ingredients to optimize therapeutic effects, i.e., antiviral activity and the like. Suitable dosage forms for sustained release include layered tablets containing layers of varying disintegration rates or controlled release polymeric matrices impregnated with the active components and shaped in tablet form or capsules containing such impregnated or encapsulated porous polymeric matrices.

In one embodiment, the one or more 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are administered orally.

In another embodiment, the one or more 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives are administered intravenously.

In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical preparation comprising at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative is in unit dosage form. In such form, the preparation is subdivided into unit doses containing effective amounts of the active components.

Compositions can be prepared according to conventional mixing, granulating or coating methods, respectively, and the present compositions can contain, in one embodiment, from about 0.1% to about 99% of the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative(s) by weight or volume. In various embodiments, the present compositions can contain, in one embodiment, from about 1% to about 70% or from about 5% to about 60% of the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative(s) by weight or volume.

The quantity of 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative in a unit dose of preparation may be varied or adjusted from about 1 mg to about 2500 mg. In various embodiment, the quantity is from about 10 mg to about 1000 mg, 1 mg to about 500 mg, 1 mg to about 100 mg, and 1 mg to about 100 mg.

For convenience, the total daily dosage may be divided and administered in portions during the day if desired. In one embodiment, the daily dosage is administered in one portion. In another embodiment, the total daily dosage is administered in two divided doses over a 24 hour period. In another embodiment, the total daily dosage is administered in three divided doses over a 24 hour period. In still another embodiment, the total daily dosage is administered in four divided doses over a 24 hour period.

The amount and frequency of administration of the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives will be regulated according to the judgment of the attending clinician considering such factors as age, condition and size of the patient as well as severity of the symptoms being treated. Generally, a total daily dosage of the 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives range from about 0.1 to about 2000 mg per day, although variations will necessarily occur depending on the target of therapy, the patient and the route of administration. In one embodiment, the dosage is from about 1 to about 200 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses. In another embodiment, the dosage is from about 10 to about 2000 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses. In another embodiment, the dosage is from about 100 to about 2000 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses. In still another embodiment, the dosage is from about 500 to about 2000 mg/day, administered in a single dose or in 2-4 divided doses.

The compositions of the invention can further comprise one or more additional therapeutic agents, selected from those listed above herein. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention provides compositions comprising: (i) at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (ii) one or more additional therapeutic agents that are not a 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative; and (iii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the amounts in the composition are together effective to treat HCV infection.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides compositions comprising a Compound of Formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides compositions comprising a Compound of Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of HCV antiviral agents, immunomodulators, and anti-infective agents.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides compositions comprising a Compound of Formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and two additional therapeutic agents, each of which are independently selected from the group consisting of HCV antiviral agents, immunomodulators, and anti-infective agents.

Kits

In one aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising a therapeutically effective amount of at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, ester or prodrug of said compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, vehicle or diluent.

In another aspect the present invention provides a kit comprising an amount of at least one 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivative, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, ester or prodrug of said compound and an amount of at least one additional therapeutic agent listed above, wherein the amounts of the two or more active ingredients result in a desired therapeutic effect. In one embodiment, the one or more 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives and the one or more additional therapeutic agents are provided in the same container. In one embodiment, the one or more 2′-Azido Substituted Nucleoside Derivatives and the one or more additional therapeutic agents are provided in separate containers.

The present invention is not to be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed in the examples that are intended as illustrations of a few aspects of the invention and any embodiments that are functionally equivalent are within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art and are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

A number of references have been cited herein, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

1. A compound having the structure:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X is O, S or CH₂; B is a natural or non-natural purine or pyrimidine base, or B is selected from one of the following groups:

Y is N or —C(R¹⁹)—; Z is N or CH; R¹ is H,

R² is H or:

or R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

R³ is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl or C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; R⁴, R⁵, R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰ or —N(R²⁰)₂; R⁶, R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, —S(O)R²⁰, —S(O)₂R²⁰, —S(O)₂N(R²⁰)₂, —NHC(O)OR²⁰, —NHC(O)N(R²⁰)₂, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —NH(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl), —NH(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-(9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl), —C(O)R²⁰, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰, wherein said C₂-C₆ alkenyl group and said C₂-C₆ alkynyl group can be optionally substituted a halo group; each occurrence of R¹² is independently selected from H, —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-T-R²¹, —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkenyl), —CH(C₆-C₁₀ aryl)-C(O)OR²⁰ and:

wherein said C₆-C₁₀ aryl moiety of said —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl) group, said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl moiety of said —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl) group and said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkenyl moiety of said —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkenyl) group can be optionally substituted with up to three groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰; R¹³ is H, —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-T-R²¹ or —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), or R¹² and R¹³ can join to form a C₂-C₄ alkylene group between the oxygen atoms that R¹² and R¹³ are attached to, wherein said C₂-C₄ alkylene group is substituted with at least one C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, wherein said C₆-C₁₀ aryl moiety of said —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl) group can be optionally substituted with up to three groups, each independently selected from group can be optionally substituted with up to three groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰; R¹⁴ is H, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl or 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, wherein said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group and said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with R²²; R¹⁵ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, wherein said C₁-C₆ alkyl can be optionally substituted with a group selected from halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, guanidino, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂, —NHC(O)R²⁰, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl and 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, and wherein said phenyl group and said benzyl group can be optionally substituted with up to 2 groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo and —OR²⁰; R¹⁶ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, wherein said C₁-C₆ alkyl can be optionally substituted with a group selected from halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, guanidino, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂, —NHC(O)R²⁰, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl and 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, and wherein said phenyl group and said benzyl group can be optionally substituted with up to 2 groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo and —OR²⁰; R¹⁷ is H, C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, C₂-C₂₀ alkenyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-C₁-C₁₀ aryl or adamantyl, wherein said C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, said C₂-C₂₀ alkenyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group and said adamantyl group can be optionally substituted with up to three groups, each independently selected from halo, —OR²⁰, —C(O)OR²⁰, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂—SR²⁰, —S(O)R²⁰, —S(O)₂R²⁰, —S(O)₂N(R²⁰)₂, —NHC(O)R²⁰, —NHC(O)OR²⁰ and —NHC(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and; R¹⁸ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-C₆-C₁₀ aryl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)-C(O)OR²⁰, -5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl or:

wherein said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group and said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with up to five groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰; R¹⁹ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, N(R²⁰)₂, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl or 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl; each occurrence of R²⁰ is independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl) or —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl), wherein said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl group, said -(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group or said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with R²⁶; each occurrence of R²¹ is independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkenyl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, —OR²⁰, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl) or —N(R²⁰)₂, wherein said C₂-C₆ alkenyl group, said C₂-C₆ alkynyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkenyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group and said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with up to five groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)R²⁰, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰; R²² represents from one to five substituent groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰, or any two R²² groups on adjacent ring carbon atoms can combine to form —O—R²³—O—; R²³ is —[C(R²⁴)₂]_(n)—; each occurrence of R²⁴ is independently H or C₁-C₆ alkyl; each occurrence of R²⁵ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-C(O)—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), —(C₁-C₆ alkylene)-C(O)O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl and 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, wherein said C₁-C₆ alkyl group, said C₂-C₆ alkenyl group, said C₂-C₆ alkynyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl group, said -(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group or said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with R²⁶; or two R²⁵ groups, together with the common nitrogen atom to which they are attached, join to form a 4- to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl group; R²⁶ represents from one to five substituent groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, halo, —OR²⁷, —SR²⁷, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁷)₂, —C(O)OR²⁷, —C(O)N(R²⁷)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁷; each occurrence of R²⁷ is independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl) or —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl); R²⁸ is H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkenyl, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl, 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl, —OR²⁰, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl) or —N(R²⁰)₂, wherein said C₂-C₆ alkenyl group, said C₂-C₆ alkynyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₃-C₇ cycloalkenyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group and said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with up to five groups, each independently selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, halo, —OR²⁰, —SR²⁰, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ haloalkyl), —CN, —NO₂, —N(R²⁰)₂, —C(O)R²⁰, —C(O)OR²⁰, —C(O)N(R²⁰)₂ and —NHC(O)R²⁰; each occurrence of R²⁹ is independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl), —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl) or —(C₁-C₃ alkylene)_(m)-(9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl), wherein said C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group, said C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, said 4 to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl group, said -(5- or 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl group or said 9- or 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl group can be optionally substituted with R²⁶; each occurrence of T is independently —S—, —O—, —SC(O)—, —SC(S)—, —OC(O)— and —OC(S)—; each occurrence of m is independently 0 or 1; and each occurrence of n is independently 1 or
 2. 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein X is O.
 3. The compound of claim 1, wherein B is:

R⁶ and R¹⁰ are each independently —NH₂ or —NHC(O)CH₃; and R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl).
 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein R³ is methyl.
 5. The compound of claim 1 having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: B is:

R¹ is H,

R² is H, or R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

R⁶ and R¹⁰ are each independently —N(R²⁰)₂; R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl); R¹⁴ is C₆-C₁₀ aryl, which can be optionally substituted with a halo group; R¹⁵ and R¹⁶ are each independently H or C₁-C₆ alkyl; R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl; R¹⁸ is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or C₆-C₁₀ aryl; and each occurrence of R²⁰ is independently H or —C(O)—(C₁-C₆ alkyl).
 6. The compound of claim 1 having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: B is:

R¹ is:

R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl); R¹⁴ is phenyl, which can be optionally substituted with up to 2 halo groups, which can be the same or different; and R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl.
 7. The compound of claim 1 having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: B is:

R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl); and R¹⁸ is aryl or C₁-C₆ alkyl.
 8. The compound of claim 1 having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: B is:

R¹ is:

and R⁹ is —OH or —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl).
 9. The compound of claim 1, wherein B is:


10. The compound of claim 1, wherein R¹ is H or

or R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:

wherein R¹⁴ is C₆-C₁₀ aryl, which can be optionally substituted as set forth in claim 1; R¹⁷ is C₁-C₆ alkyl; and R¹⁸ is C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl or C₆-C₁₀ aryl.
 11. The compound of claim 1, wherein R¹ is

wherein R¹⁴ is naphthyl or phenyl, which can be optionally substituted with F or Cl; and R¹⁷ is methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl or neopentyl.
 12. The compound of claim 7, wherein R¹⁸ is C₁-C₆ alkyl.
 13. The compound of claim 1, wherein R¹ and R² join to form a group having the formula:


14. The compound of claim 1 being one of the compounds numbered 1-780 in the above specification.
 15. The compound of claim 1 having the structure:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of the compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 17. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 16, further comprising a second therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of HCV antiviral agents, immunomodulators, and anti-infective agents.
 18. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 17, further comprising a third therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of HCV protease inhibitors, HCV NS5A inhibitors and HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors.
 19. (canceled)
 20. A method of treating a patient infected with HCV comprising the step of administering an amount of the compound according to claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof effective to prevent and/or treat infection by HCV in said patient.
 21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of administering pegylated-interferon alpha and an HCV protease inhibitor to said patient.
 22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of administering ribavirin to said patient.
 23. The use of the compound according to claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting HCV NS5A activity or for preventing and/or treating infection by HCV in a patient in need thereof. 